Nuphar sagittifolia, also known as Arrowleaf Pond-lily, Cape Fear spatterdock,Narrowleaf Pond-lily - Nuphar sagittifolia (Walter) Pursh. (n.d.). Vascular Plants of North Carolina. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php?id=1984 or Narrow-leaved Spatterdock,Nuphar sagittifolia (Walter) Pursh. (n.d.-b). Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://vaplantatlas.org/index.php?do=plant&plant=3059 is a perennial, rhizomatous, aquatic herb in the family Nymphaeaceae with unique narrowly lanceolate leaves known only from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Description Vegetative characteristics Nuphar sagittifolia is a perennial,Cape Fear Spatterdock (Nuphar lutea ssp. sagittifolia). (n.d.). Center for Plant Conservation - Saving Plants From Extinction. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://saveplants.org/plant-profile/47235/Nuphar-lutea-ssp.-sagittifolia/Cape-Fear-Spatterdock/ rhizomatous, aquatic,Nuphar sagittifolia (Walter) Pursh. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:605464-1 heterophyllous herb with 2–2.5 cm wide rhizomes.Nuphar sagittifolia in Flora of North America @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved February 4, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500819 Both floating and submerged leaves are present, but submerged leaves are more common.Padgett, D. J. (1997). A biosystematic monograph of the genus Nuphar Sm.(Nymphaeaceae). University of New Hampshire. The crisped, membranous submerged leaves are larger than the floating leaves. The glabrous,Britton, Nathaniel Lord, & Brown, Addison. (1913). An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British possessions : from Newfoundland to the parallel of the southern boundary of Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the 102d meridian (Vol. 2). C. Scribner’s sons. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37754454 green, linear to lanceolate floating leaf is 15–30(–50) cm long, and 5–10(–11.5) cm wide. The subterete petiole is 1.5–7 mm wide. Generative characteristics The yellow, 2-3 cm wide flower has a glabrous, 3–8 mm wide peduncle. The flower has 6 sepals. The yellow petals are thick and oblong. The gynoecium consists of 11–15 carpels. The almost entire, green, 14–18 mm wide stigmatic disk has 11–15 stigmatic rays. The ovoid, green, 3–3.5 cm long, and 2–3 cm wide fruit bears 4–5 mm long, and 3 mm wide seeds. Flowering and fruiting occurs from April to October.Culatta, K. E. (2020). Taxonomy, Genetic Diversity, and Status Assessment of Nuphar sagittifolia (Nymphaeaceae). North Carolina State University.
Taxonomy It was first published as Nymphaea sagittifolia by Thomas Walter in 1788.Walter, Thomas, Fraser, J., & Wenman, Joseph. (1788). Flora caroliniana : secundum systema vegetabilium perillustris Linnaei digesta; characteres essentiales naturalesve et differentias veras exhibens; cum emendationibus numerosis: descriptionum antea evulgatarum: adumbrationes stirpium plus mille continens: necnon, generibus novis non paucis, speciebus plurimis novisq. ornata (p. 155). Sumptibus J. Fraser Prostant venales apud J. Wenman, in Vico vulgo dicto Fleet-street. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10001223Nymphaea sagittifolia Walter. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/605702-1 It was placed into the genus Nuphar as Nuphar sagittifolia published by Frederick Traugott Pursh in 1813.Pursh, Frederick. (1814). Flora Americae Septentrionalis; or, A systematic arrangement and description of the plants of North America. Containing, besides what have been described by preceding authors, many new and rare species, collected during twelve years travels and residence in that country (Vol. 2, p. 370). Printed for White, Cochrance, and co. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49810843Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-s). Nuphar sagittifolia (Walter) Pursh. Tropicos. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/22600093Nuphar sagittifolia Pursh. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from https://www.ipni.org/n/605464-1 It is placed in the section Nuphar sect. Astylus.USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=412220. Accessed 4 February 2025. Etymology The specific epithet sagittifolia means having arrow-shaped leaves.A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin. (n.d.-c). Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved February 4, 2025, from http://www.mobot.org/mobot/latindict/keyDetail.aspx?keyWord=sagittIlieva, I. A. (2023). Specific botanical epithets meaning likeness. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 15(3), 110-126.
Habitat It is aquatic, found in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers in the coastal plains in up to 2.1 m deep, acidic water.Les, D. H. (2017). Aquatic Dicotyledons of North America: Ecology, Life History, and Systematics. USA: CRC Press.
Conservation The NatureServe conservation status is T2 Imperiled. In Virginia, it is threatened. In North Carolina, it is placed on the Rare Plant Watch List. In South Carolina, it is also placed on the list of rare species.
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