| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order Type: Basal Angiosperms-Monocots
Order: Poales
Family: Sparganiaceae
Family Common Name: Bur-Reed Family
Genera: Sparganium |
Defining Features: The common
name for the family is "Bur-Reed", which describes the characteristic
of the inflorescence of the family; a round, dense head.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Actinomorphic and unisexual/monoecious. Inflorescence a dense
head of sessile flowers attached to the main axis with male flowers above
female flowers. Fruit and Seed Features: Fruit an achene with persistent
style and tepals. Seeds with mealy endosperm present. Placentation is apical
or basal. Vegetative Features: Habit is as aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial
herbs. Leaves are simple, linear and entire, two-ranked and alternate.
Often thick and spongy with sheathing at the base.
Distribution: Aquatic or semi-aquatic
environments in the north temperate to arctic regions, with a few in Australia
and New Zealand.
Economic Use: Plant is suitable
for water gardening. The stems and leaves are a source of nesting material
and food for aquatic birds and mammals.
Number of Genera Globally:
1
Number of Species Globally: 20
