California arrowhead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California arrowhead |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Sagittaria
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| Species: |
montevidensis
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The Sagittaria montevidensis is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the water-plantain family, called Alismataceae. People often call it the giant arrowhead or California arrowhead.
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About the California Arrowhead
The California arrowhead is a strong aquatic plant, meaning it lives in water. It doesn't have a main stem above ground. Instead, it grows from an underground stem called a rhizome.
When the plant is young, its leaves are like ribbons and stay underwater. As it gets older, the leaves grow above the water. These leaves are shaped like an arrowhead (that's where the name comes from!) and are smooth. They can grow up to 28 centimeters (about 11 inches) long and 23 centimeters (about 9 inches) wide. The stalks that hold the leaves, called petioles, are round and spongy. They can be over 0.75 meters (2.5 feet) long and up to 3 inches thick.
The plant's flower stalks are usually shorter than its leaves. The Flowers grow in groups or pairs at different points along the stalk. Each flower is about two to three centimeters wide. They have three white petals, each with a cool wine-colored spot. They also have three green sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the flower. The thick stems that hold the flowers, called pedicels, can be up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. These plants usually bloom from June to September.
Where It Lives
The Sagittaria montevidensis is found in wet areas across many parts of the world. You can find it in North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It also grows in South America, in countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
In North America, it's found in different places, not always in one continuous area. It grows a lot from West Virginia to Texas and up to South Dakota. But you can also find it in separate spots like New Brunswick (Canada), Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, and Alabama. This plant has also started growing in new places where it wasn't originally from, like Spain, Tanzania, and the island of Java in Indonesia. When a plant starts growing in a new area like this, it's called "naturalized."
Its Home
This plant prefers to grow in shallow water, especially at the edges of ponds. It often lives in places where the water might only be there for a short time.
Different Types of California Arrowhead
Just like there can be different breeds of dogs, there are different types of this plant called subspecies. They are all Sagittaria montevidensis, but with slight differences.
- Sagittaria montevidensis subsp. calycina – Found in the United States and Mexico.
- Sagittaria montevidensis subsp. montevidensis – Found in South America.
- Sagittaria montevidensis subsp. spongiosa – Found in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, and in New Brunswick in Canada.
Images for kids
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Giant arrowhead (Sagittaria montevidensis)
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Close-up on a flower
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Leaves of Sagittaria montevidensis at the Orto Botanico dell'Università di Genova
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See also
In Spanish: Saeta de Montevideo para niños
