Sparganium erectum L.

Spice Flower Fruit In the field

Family: SPARGANIACEAE

Genus: Sparganium

Catalan common name: Bova borda. Espargani.

Spanish common name: Platanaria.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hydrophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Non-saline wetlands.

Characteristics: An aquatic plant that lives rooted at the bottom depths and has its leaves and flowers out of the water. It is robust plant, with wide leaves that can be longer than a centimetre in length. Can be easily identified when flowering or fructifying, as it has a very short stem upon which its flowers are grouped in spherical glomerules that are arranged along the length this inflorescence stem. The entire plant can reach a height of a half metre; the seeds are smaller than those of the rest of the species pertaining to this genus. Lives in canals and wet zones with species of Juncus, Scirpus and other associates. Flowers in April.