Scientific Name:

Sagittaria latifolia

Family Name:

Water-plantain Family

Habitat:

Flooded shores & ponds (lives in water).

Click here to see an example of wapato's habitat. (26K)

Characteristics:

1. Large arrow-shaped leaves arise at the base of the plant. The stalks are long, and the leaves are all above water.

2. Many large 3-petaled, white flowers on stem above leaves. Wapato flowers at the end of summer.

Uses or Importances:

1. Underground, starchy tubers dug up & used as important food source for native Americans & early settlers. Eaten raw or dried & ground into flour.

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Paul Slichter