Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei

Bur reed

Family: Typhaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Bur reed is a California native perennial found in coastal bioregions of northern, central, and southern California in coastal habitats at elevations below 150 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces inconspicuous white to greenish flowers in spherical heads 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters wide. Growing up to 2.5 meters tall with long, three-angled leaves that are 10 to 28 millimeters wide and generally flat when pressed. Its leaves are proximally thin and emerge in a distinctive triangular shape, providing structure to wetland and coastal environments. The fruit develops as a rounded to tapered body 5 to 8 millimeters long, characteristic of this aquatic or semi-aquatic species.

Habitat: Generally coastal

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: < 150 m

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.