Arrowhead

Arrowhead (Sagittaria) - Graceful water-plants not only charming at the waterside, but from their structure among the most interesting of hardy perennials. Their parts are strangely variable in appearance and structure—the roots being tuberous, fibrous, and stoloniferous (running); the leaves submerged and ribbon-like, floating or erect, and exceedingly variable in shape; the flowers are fertile or sterile, single or double. This variety of form is so confusing that uncertainty prevails as to the entire group, some botanists making a hundred species, which others reduce to about ten. There seems, indeed, to be little fixity of character, the same plant being unlike itself under changed conditions. Several kinds are now in cultivation, and no plants are more easily grown in shallow water, where they spread fast, the only care being to keep them from overrunning other things. Their tubers should be planted in mud with water from 6 inches to a foot in depth, though some kinds will make their way in deeper water. The plants are quite happy in partial shade, where the flowers last longer. The following are in cultivation:—

Sagittaria L. arrowhead

Sagittaria L. arrowhead

Sagittaria L. arrowhead

Sagittaria L. arrowhead

Sagittaria ambigua J.G. Sm.Kansas arrowhead

Sagittaria brevirostra Mackenzie & Bush shortbeak arrowhead

Sagittaria Japonica Plena - One of our best hardy water-plants, with large full flowers 2 to 2 1/2 inches across and like a white Stock, gathered into whorls all the way up a stem of nearly 2 feet. The roots spread fast and will grow in water 2 feet deep, though 6 inches is deep enough for planting. The single kind is scarce, though the snowy flowers with golden anthers are very attractive, and the foliage lasts much longer than in our native kind.

Sagittaria Lancifolia - Of uncertain origin, with several other names. It is of robust growth, with stems 5 feet high and leaves prolonged into a narrow lance shape. The flowers are in whorls of three, the outer petals greenish flushed with rose, and the inner ones pure white, with a cluster of golden stamens. Syns., S. gigantea and S. sinensis.

Sagittaria Macrophylla - With large leaves and loose spikes of white flowers, standing about 3 feet high. Not only are the flowers larger than in any other kind, but the plant is worth growing for its fine leaves alone, which takes a rich autumn color.

Sagittaria Montevidensis - From S. America, too tender for the open before the end of May, though it will thrive in the water-garden all summer. The growths stand boldly 4 or 5 feet out of the water, with large creamy-white flowers, 2 inches across, marked with a deep purplish blotch at the base of each petal. One good spike will carry 100 flowers. Seeds sown in February germinate freely, and the young plants flower by July, so that it is often treated as an annual.

Sagittaria Natans - A very distinct kind from North America, with floating heart-shaped leaves and scanty single white flowers.

Sagittaria Sagittifolia - The wild Arrowhead of our ponds and rivers, familiar in its graceful arrow-headed leaves and the pretty white flowers half an inch across, with purple claws and anthers. It spreads fast and is tenacious of life, having been the last wild flowering plant to flourish on the banks of the Thames in the heart of London. The double-flowered form is that mostly seen in gardens, with very full flowers about an inch across, and pure white like a little Banksian Rose.

Sagittaria Simplex - A scarce and neat species, well adapted for growing in tubs or small ornamental basins. Though hardy, it is less vigorous than most kinds, with small leaves of a less decided arrow shape, and delicate flowers of soft pale yellow.

Sagittaria Variabilis - The common Arrowhead of N. America; a very variable plant, with a number of distinct forms. It comes near our own kind, but the flowers differ in their greenish centre, free from the purple shading of sagittifolia. Among the many varieties are hastata, latifolia, obtusa, gracilis—a dwarf form rarely exceeding 12 inches in height, and one with double flowers.

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