Practical
Plants

Sagittaria cuneata

Wapato

a perennial member of the Sagittaria genus in the family Alismataceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Flower type
monoecious

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or cooked[6]. Slightly bitter raw[5], the roasted tubers are sweet-tasting[2][3]. Those tubers found at the end of the rootstock are the best[2]. When broken off from the roots the tubers rise to the water surface and are then easily gathered[5].

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant has been used to treat headaches[6]. The corms have been eaten as a treatment for indigestion[6].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Stomachic

Environment

Range
N. America - Nova Scotia to British Columbia, south to Connecticut, Kansas, and California.
Habitat
Calcareous or muddy shores and shallow water[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in about 5cm of water. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and gradually increase the depth of water as the plants grow until it is about 5cm above the top of the pot. Plant out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Division of the tubers in spring or autumn. Easy. Runners potted up at any time in the growing season.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A pond or bog garden plant, it requires a moist or wet loamy soil in a sunny position[1][4]. Succeeds in shallow, still or slowly flowing water. Plants are usually monoecious but dioecious forms are sometimes found[7]. A very polymorphic species[7]. In mud or shallow water the leaves are broad, but in deep water the plant only produces long slender leafstalks[5]. This plant has potential for commercial cultivation as a root crop[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  5. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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