Sagittaria australis (J. G. Sm.) Small

The name Sagittaria longirostra (Micheli) J. G. Smith has been misapplied to S. australis (J. G. Smith) Small (E. O. Beal et al. 1980).

Herbs, perennial, to 130 cm; rhizomes absent; stolons present; corms present. Leaves emersed; petiole 5-winged, 19--85 cm; blade sagittate, 3--19 ´ 2.5--11 cm, basal lobes ± equal to remainder of blade. Inflorescences racemes, of 5--12 whorls, emersed, 10--29 ´ 3--5 cm; peduncles 25--105 cm; bracts distinct or if connate, then less than ¼ total length, lanceolate, 7--30 mm, papery, not papillose; fruiting pedicels spreading to ascending, cylindric, 0.3--2.3 cm. Flowers to 3 cm diam.; sepals recurved to spreading, not enclosing flower or fruiting head; filaments cylindric, longer than anthers, glabrous; pistillate pedicellate, without ring of sterile stamens. Fruiting heads 1--2.2 cm diam.; achenes obovoid, without abaxial keel, 2.1--3.2 ´ 1.4--2.3 mm, beaked; faces not tuberculate, wings 0--2, ± entire, glands absent; beak lateral, strongly recurved, 4--17 mm. 2n = 22.

Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., La., Md., Miss., Mo., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W.Va.

Flowering summer--early fall (Jul--Oct).

Slightly basic to slightly acidic ponds, lakes, and swamps; 1--300m.

Sagittaria longirostra (Micheli) J. G. Smith var. australis J. G. Smith, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 24: 20. 1897; S. engelmanniana J. G. Smith. subsp. longirostra (Micheli) Bogin

Sagittaria australis, the Appalachian arrowhead or longbeak arrowhead, is a plant species native to much of the eastern part of the United States, from Louisiana to Iowa to New York State to Florida, mostly between New Jersey and Mississippi with scattered locations elsewhere in the range.

It is an emergent aquatic, growing in swamps and along the edges of lakes and ponds. It is sometimes sold as an ornamental to be cultivated in aquaria or garden ponds.

Sagittaria australis is a perennial herb up to 130 cm (50 inches) tall. It is unusual in genus in having a 5-winged petiole. Flowers are up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) in diameter, white, producing an achene with a recurved beak.