Fauna
Plant

Broadleaf Arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia

Also known as Duck Potato, Indian Potato, Wapato, Common Arrowhead

Broadleaf arrowhead anchors shallow freshwater ecosystems with its distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and delicate three-petaled white flowers arranged in whorls. Emerging from submerged rootstocks, its glossy foliage rises above mudflats, river margins, and marshes, providing shelter for aquatic microfauna. Below the muddy substrate, the plant spreads via creeping stolons that form starchy tubers heavily utilized by overwintering waterfowl and aquatic mammals.

AquaticWetlandPerennial
Broadleaf Arrowhead reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Canvasback
  • Muskrat
  • American Beaver
ThreatsWetland drainage, aquatic herbicide runoff, invasive species competition
HabitatsFreshwater marshes, shallow pond margins, stream banks, mudflats
Life spanPerennial
Classification
  1. FamilyAlismataceae
  2. SpeciesSagittaria latifolia
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild plants and tubers have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Spotting: Look for distinctive three-lobed arrow leaves along quiet wetland margins from early summer through autumn.
  • Habitat Protection: Avoid disturbing soft mudflats where roots anchor delicate young shoots in spring.
Related species
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