Sagittaria cuneata
Arum leaved arrowhead
(c) Rob Foster, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rob Foster · licence
Family: Alismataceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sagittaria cuneata (Arum leaved arrowhead) is a native California herb in the Alismataceae family, recognized by basal lobes < terminal lobe and higher elevation range.
Arum leaved arrowhead is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Border, and Great Basin in ponds and slow streams at elevations below 2,500 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers with distinctive sagittate leaves. Growing with emergent leaves that have petioles curving upward and blades 2.5 to 17 centimeters long, it develops from a white or bluish oblong tuber. Its leaves feature a unique shape with basal lobes smaller than the terminal lobe, creating a characteristic arrowhead profile. The fruit develops with a very short terminal beak less than half a millimeter long, giving the plant a delicate finishing detail.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are basal lobes < terminal lobe and higher elevation range
Habitat and range
Habitat: Ponds, slow streams
Elevation: < 2500 m
Outside California: to southern Canada, northern United States, Texas
Bloom period
Sagittaria cuneata blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Alisma: Sagittaria has separate male and female flowers; alisma flowers have both parts together.; vs Echinodorus: Sagittaria fruit clusters lack the spiky bur appearance of burhead.; vs Ranunculus: Sagittaria has three white petals and aquatic habit; buttercup has five yellow petals.; vs Damasonium: Sagittaria fruits spiral on a dome; damasonium fruits fuse at base in a flat star.; vs Plantago: Sagittaria has three-petaled white flowers; plantain has tiny flowers in brown spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sagittaria cuneata native to California?
Yes. Sagittaria cuneata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sagittaria cuneata bloom?
Sagittaria cuneata blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Sagittaria cuneata belong to?
Sagittaria cuneata is in the Alismataceae family, genus Sagittaria.
What habitat does Sagittaria cuneata grow in?
Sagittaria cuneata grows in Ponds, slow streams.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.