Sparganium eurycarpum
Broadfruit bur reed
(c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Typhaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sparganium eurycarpum (Broadfruit bur reed) is a native California herb in the Typhaceae family, recognized by robust plant with large fruits.
Broadfruit bur reed is a California native perennial found in wetland habitats, typically growing in marshy areas and shallow water. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces distinctive white to cream-colored flower heads with separate staminate and pistillate clusters. Growing robustly to 2.5 meters tall, it develops thick, triangular stems that emerge from the water or nearby moist ground. Its leaves are thick and three-angled near the base, becoming flat or keeled toward the tips, with blades that can vary from thick to thin along the plant's height. The fruit is notable for its obconic shape, measuring 5 to 9 millimeters long with 3 to 6 distinct angles and a short 1 to 4 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; robust plant with large fruits
Habitat and range
California counties: Modoc, Lake, Lassen, Orange, Plumas, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Alameda, Kern, Merced, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Marin, Santa Clara, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Benito, San Diego, Solano, Butte, Monterey, Los Angeles, Yolo
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 eurycarpum native to California?
Yes. Sparganium eurycarpum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Sparganium eurycarpum grow?
Sparganium eurycarpum occurs in Modoc, Lake, Lassen, Orange, Plumas, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Sonoma and other counties.
What plant family does Sparganium eurycarpum belong to?
Sparganium eurycarpum is in the Typhaceae family, genus Sparganium.
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.