Family: water plantains (Alismataceae)
Blooming period: June–August
Size: 30–100 cm
Habitat: standing and slow-flowing waters, water ditches and banks of water
Common arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) is an aquatic plant that first sends up submerged strap-shaped leaves, later floating leaves of lanceolate shape, and from the water usually also protruding awl-shaped leaves with 1 to 3 cm wide and up to 10 cm long pointed leaf segments. From the water also protrudes the flowering stalk with six-petaled flowers 1.5 to 2.5 cm wide. The outer three petals are small and greenish. The inner three are snow-white and purple at the base. The upper flowers are male, produced by purple anthers. From the lower – female flowers, after fertilization, spherical fruits develop. Common arrowhead is V
In Slovenia it is listed on the red list of endangered plant species, as it occurs only in a few places in the interior and in the eastern part of the country.
