Arrowhead

Information on Arrowhead

Common Name: Arrowhead
Scientific Name: Sagittaria sagittifolia
Irish Name: Rinn saighde
Family Group: Alismataceae
Distribution: View Map (Courtesy of the BSBI)
Flowering Period


Click for list of all flowering by month
Arrowhead is not easily confused with other wild plants on this web site.


 This handsome aquatic perennial, which is well-named for its clearly defined arrow-shaped upper leaves, flowers in July and August in still or slow-flowing fresh water.  Its bright white three-petalled flowers (2 cm across) are in whorls of three, the upper flowers male with numerous stamens, the lower ones female. This plant is native and belongs to the family Alismataceae.

 I first identified this plant while on the River Barrow in Athy, Co Kildare in 1978 and photographed it from a bridge over the Barrow in Athy town in 2018. 

If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre

 The tubers of some species of Sagittaria are said to be edible when roasted and were important food sources of first the Native Americans. I cannot recommend trying them. 

Arrowhead
Arrowhead
Arrowhead