#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
Common Arrowhead, Sagittaria latifolia, in the wetlands, Charles River
Homecoming, Charles River Woods
Happily back in the Charles River woods this morning - and the dogs, ecstatic to be taken for a long ramble. I'm surprised by the liveliness of color and bloom in the swamp - the blood red jewels of the jack-in-the-pulpit peeking from under some green leaves by the side of the trail; the fully blooming turtleheads leaning over the swamp water; and, further along, in some different wetlands, I found some arrowheads in bloom and looked them up and learned
Sagittaria latifolia is a plant found in shallow wetlands and is sometimes known as broadleaf arrowhead, duck-potato, Indian potato, or wapato. This plant produces edible tubers that were extensively used by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. ~ Wikipedia
After a day in the stadium yesterday (US Open Tennis) I'm back in my wet shoes, my feet moist and muddy with earth in the lovely disorderly order of wild plants in the meadows and woods of September.
Duck-potato is my favorite name for this plant - because it means what is says; food for the ducks:
“This is a multipurpose emergent plant, however the greatest value this species offers is as food and cover for aquatic animal life. The seed and tubers of duck potato are readily consumed by waterfowl, songbirds, wading birds, muskrats, and beaver. The emergent foliage of this species provides cover to the same animals with the addition of fish and aquatic insects.”
Oh, I am so happy to be home in my Sunday sanctuary.
