Sparganium
English: Bur-reed; Bede sedge o; Knop sedge.
Region: temperate regions; Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Genus: ± 20 species.
Botany: perennial marsh plants, to 3.5 m;habitat wet areas; stem floating or emergent, from a buried rhizome, dependent upon aerenchyma to transport oxygen to the rooting zone; leaves strap-like; flowers epicene, in spherical heads, either male or female flowers; seeds accumulate in the soil as dense seed banks, which allow the plants to regenerate during low water periods.
Use: snake bites.
Taxonomy: previously placed alone in
Sparganiaceae.