Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei
Bur reed
Photo: parent species Sparganium eurycarpum · (c) Tom Norton, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Typhaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei (Bur reed) is a native California herb in the Typhaceae family, recognized by wide thin leaves and coastal habitat.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are wide thin leaves and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally coastal
Elevation: < 150 m
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei 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 eurycarpum var. greenei native to California?
Yes. Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei bloom?
Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei belong to?
Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei is in the Typhaceae family, genus Sparganium.
What habitat does Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei grow in?
Sparganium eurycarpum var. greenei grows in Generally coastal.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Sparganium natans — Small bur-reed
- Sparganium sp. — Bur-reed
- Sparganium angustifolium — Narrow-leaved bur-reed
- Sparganium emersum — European bur reed
- Sparganium eurycarpum — Broadfruit bur reed
- Sparganium eurycarpum var. eurycarpum — Broadfruit bur reed
- Typha angustifolia — Narrow-leaved cattail
- Typha domingensis — Southern cattail
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.