Sparganium angustifolium
Narrow-leaved bur-reed
(c) Suzanne Carriere, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Typhaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sparganium angustifolium (Narrow-leaved bur-reed) is a native California herb in the Typhaceae family, recognized by narrow leaves and small fruiting structures.
Narrow-leaved bur-reed is a native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges and Sierra Nevada High Sierra in shallow to deep lakes, ponds, and streams at elevations of 1,800 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this aquatic plant produces small white flower heads with distinctive staminate and pistillate clusters. Growing up to 2.5 meters long, it has limp, floating stems that can occasionally become emergent or terrestrial. Its narrow leaves are 1 to 5 millimeters wide, generally flat or slightly convex, with some leaves obscurely three-angled or keeled. The fruit is an ellipsoid to fusiform body 3 to 4 millimeters long with a short 1.5 to 2.2 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; key features are narrow leaves and small fruiting structures
Habitat and range
Habitat: Locally common. Shallow to deep, nutrient-poor water, lakes, ponds, streams, occasionally +- terrestrial
Elevation: 1800-3100 m
California counties: Alpine, El Dorado, Fresno, Mono, Nevada, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne, Inyo, Mariposa, Placer, Sierra, Trinity, Madera, Humboldt, San Bernardino, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Amador, Butte, Mendocino, Sonoma, Shasta, Santa Barbara
Outside California: to Alaska, northeastern North America, circumboreal
Bloom period
Sparganium angustifolium blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Typha: Sparganium has round spiky balls along the stem; Typha has cylindrical brown 'hot dog' spikes.; vs Ruppia: Sparganium has dense spherical flower heads; Ruppia has inconspicuous flowers on thread-like stems.; vs Myriophyllum: Sparganium has undivided ribbon-like leaves; Myriophyllum has feathery, finely-divided leaves.; vs Najas: Sparganium has spherical flower clusters on stems; Najas has tiny flowers hidden in leaf axils.; vs Callitriche: Sparganium has spherical flower heads on tall stems; Callitriche forms small rosettes at water surface.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sparganium angustifolium native to California?
Yes. Sparganium angustifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sparganium angustifolium bloom?
Sparganium angustifolium blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Sparganium angustifolium grow?
Sparganium angustifolium occurs in Alpine, El Dorado, Fresno, Mono, Nevada, Siskiyou, Tulare, Tuolumne and other counties, at elevations of 1800-3100 m.
What plant family does Sparganium angustifolium belong to?
Sparganium angustifolium is in the Typhaceae family, genus Sparganium.
What habitat does Sparganium angustifolium grow in?
Sparganium angustifolium grows in Locally common. Shallow to deep, nutrient-poor water, lakes, ponds, streams, occasionally +- terrestrial.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.