Big Bur-Reed

Sparganium eurycarpum is a member of the Typhaceae family and is commonly found in wetland habitats. Its native range includes regions across Eurasia and North America, with a distribution that spans from Newfoundland to California and extends into parts of the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palaearctic regions. The plant reproduces clonally, forming colonies through rhizomes. The name 'bur-reed' refers to the unique, rounded fruit clusters that resemble a mace. A key identifying feature of this species is the presence of two stigmas, a trait not found in other bur-reed species. First described in 1867 by Engelm, it is also known by the common names broadfruit bur-reed and giant bur-reed.