Sagittaria sanfordii
| Sagittaria sanfordii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| Order: | Alismatales |
| Family: | Alismataceae |
| Genus: | Sagittaria |
| Species: | S. sanfordii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sagittaria sanfordii Greene | |
Sagittaria sanfordii is an uncommon species of flowering plant in the water plantain family known by the common name valley arrowhead. It is endemic to California, where it is known from a few scattered occurrences on the North Coast and in the Central Valley. Many occurrences previously noted in the Central Valley and in southern California have been extirpated as the plant's aquatic habitat has been lost to human activity.[1] This is an aquatic perennial herb growing from a spherical tuber. The leaves are variable in shape, not necessarily sagittate, or shaped like arrowheads, as the leaves of many other Sagittaria are. Leaves may grow up to 25 centimeters long from the underwater stem. The plant is monoecious, with individuals bearing both male and female flowers. The inflorescence which rises above the surface of the water is a raceme made up of several whorls of flowers, the lowest node bearing female flowers and upper nodes bearing male flowers. The flower is up to 3.5 centimeters wide with white petals. The male flowers have rings of stamens at the centers. Female flowers each have a spherical cluster of pistils which develops into a head of tiny fruits.