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PLANT PROFILE LIST

 

NAME:  Arrowhead

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Sagittaria Latifolia / Alismataceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  Wapato, Wapati, Duck Potatoes, Katniss

CONDITIONS: ponds, muddy shores, tidal waters
 

PARTS:	EDIBLE	TASTE	RAW/COOK	SEASON
All
Shoots
Leaves
Stalk/Stem
Buds
Flowers
Fruits
Pods
Seeds
Nuts
Roots		bitter-raw sweet-cooked	raw/cooked	early Spring/Fall
Bark

 

PORTION: medium

 

COMMENT: Root - Slightly bitter raw, the roasted tubers are sweet-tasting. Those tubers found at the end of the rootstock are the best. When broken off from the roots the tubers rise to the water surface and are then easily gathered. The tubers can also be dried and ground into a powder, this powder can be used as a gruel or mixed with cereal flours and used to make bread (1) Best peeled. (5)  

 

CAUTION: Always go slow with any plant in case you are allergic or sensitive to it. //  Unless you are certain, it is best to cook the roots just in case you have Arrow Arum instead of Arrowhead. “The plant (Arrrow Arum) is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of tiny needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant.(1)

 

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL:  Analgesic;  Stomachic. The plant has been used to treat headaches. The corms have been eaten as a treatment for indigestion. (1)

 

LOOK-A-LIKES:  Arrow Arum – however, roots must be cooked!  https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Peltandra+sagittifolia

 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

 

OTHER USES:

 

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Sagittaria+latifolia
2. http://www.eattheweeds.com/wapato-all-its-quacked-up-to-be/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittaria_latifolia
4. http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/arrowroot_20.html  (good photos)
5. http://www.ediblewildfood.com/arrowhead.aspx  (good photos)