Syn.: sagittaria, swamp, arrow, water arrow.

Arrowhead is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in bodies of water and their coastal areas. The arrowhead leaves have a pointed shape and the white and pink flowers grow in groups of three. The rhizomes and tubers of the plant are used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine for the prevention of many diseases.

The common arrowhead plant is not a pharmacopoeial plant and is included in the official Register of Medicinal Plants of the Russian Federation, but is highly valued by traditional medicine. It has a wound healing and anti-infective effect.

Contraindications and side effects

The plant should not be used during pregnancy, breastfeeding and childhood. It is also contraindicated for obesity, diabetes and individual intolerance.

In cooking

The use of common arrowhead in cooking is common in many countries. In Asia, it is specially cultivated for cooking, and in North America it is even called the white potato of the Indians. The composition of this plant is indeed very similar to that of potatoes, but sagittaria contains twice as much starch and five times as much protein. After heat treatment, arrowhead tubers taste like baked chestnuts, go well with meat, and are also used as an independent dish. Flour from the plant is used not only for baking, but also as a thickener for jelly and jellies. A tasty and nutritious dish is porridge made from arrowhead tubers. It is also known that in France, gourmet dishes are prepared from the roots of the plant, and in some regions of Russia, arrowhead tubers are eaten baked.

In gardening

The common arrowhead is one of the favorite plants of gardeners. It is often used to decorate aquariums and coastal areas of ponds. Despite the fact that arrowhead grows in water in its natural environment, it can also be grown in well-moistened soil. Comfortable water temperature for the plant is 18-20 degrees Celsius. Given enough water, warmth and light, arrowhead blooms in late summer with beautiful white flowers with a crimson center. It is important to know that sagittaria blooms only in shallow water. Depending on the planting depth, the types of plant leaves also differ: above-water ones have an arrow-shaped shape, floating ones are rounded, and underwater ones are narrow and long.

In other areas

Muskrats, ducks and other waterfowl feed on arrowhead tubers. Some pets, such as rabbits, also love this plant, so it can be used as food in the household.

Common arrow leaf (lat. Sagittaria sagittifolia) is a species of the genus Arrow leaf (lat. Sagittaria). This genus belongs to the Chastukhov family (lat. Alismatáceae) and has more than 40 plant species.

Common arrowhead is an evergreen herbaceous plant that grows entirely or partially in water. Round tubers are located on the cord-like shoots of the rhizome. The thin triangular stem is filled with air-bearing tissue and reaches a length of 20-110 cm. Arrow leaf is a classic example of modification variability: its leaves vary in shape depending on the habitat. The underwater leaves are narrow and long, up to 120 cm. The floating leaves have a wide ovoid plate; the above-water leaves have a long petiole and are shaped like an arrowhead. From mid-June, racemose inflorescences appear on the above-water part of the plant. Dioecious flowers are arranged in whorls: the lower two whorls are from pistillate flowers, the rest are from staminate flowers. The corolla consists of a convex core and three white petals with a pink base. The formula of the arrowhead flower is *♂O3+3T∞P0; *♀О3+3Т0П∞. After pollination of the arrowhead by insects, fruits, achenes with a spout, are formed, which are distributed by water currents.

Arrowhead grows near bodies of water in a temperate climate zone and is widespread throughout America, as well as almost all of Europe and Asia. In China and Japan it is specially bred for food purposes.

Regions of distribution on the map of Russia.

The collection of common arrowhead tubers takes place in spring and autumn. To prepare the plant, the tubers are cleaned of any remaining above-ground parts, washed in cold water, cut into slices and left to dry in the open air. After this, the workpiece is stored in a cool place. To obtain arrowleaf flour, the chopped tubers are dried in an oven and ground. For medicinal purposes, fresh arrowhead leaves are used or an extract is prepared from them.

Common arrowhead tubers contain up to 35% starch, 10% proteins, 3% sugars, 0.5% fat, as well as steroids and tannins. The leaves contain flavonoids (in hydrolyzate: homoorientin, orientin, scoparin, isoscoparin), the seeds contain carbohydrates: glucose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose. The plant is rich in B vitamins, as well as mineral elements such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese and copper.

Pharmacological properties

The medicinal properties of arrow leaf are related to its chemical composition. In addition to vitamins and minerals, the plant contains large amounts of starch. Scientists have proven that starch-containing products normalize digestion, have a positive effect on the body during ulcers, regulate blood sugar levels and support anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, the antitumor effect and antifungal activity of arrowhead extract have been experimentally established.

In folk medicine, the rhizome of the common arrowhead has been used since ancient times in the treatment of rabies, and fresh leaves of the plant are still applied to the sore spot for erysipelas as an astringent and wound-healing agent. Thanks to the tannins contained in common arrowhead, it is also effective in stopping bleeding. Fungal and infectious skin diseases are treated with decoctions of the leaves.

In Slavic mythology, the guardian spirit of the marriage bed was Lub. He was depicted as a shaggy red cat with an arrow leaf stalk in his teeth. The spirit also had an antipode - a black cat Nelyub with a branch of henbane. The fact is that poisonous henbane was used to summon evil spirits, symbolizing insanity and discord. The arrowhead was a revered plant. It was believed that it helps men in matters of procreation and protects them from vicious relationships.

1. Medicinal plants: illustrated atlas / N.N. Safonov. – M.: Eksmo, 2013. – 194 p.

2. Ontogenetic atlas of medicinal plants. Tutorial. – Yoshkar-Ola: Mar. state univ., 2000. – 118 p.

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The monotony of the swamps and the sadness they evoke disappear when meeting the amazing arrowhead plant. The sharp arrow-shaped leaves are one of a kind, so it is impossible not to notice it.

But not everyone knows that, despite its modest appearance, the plant is actively used to decorate artificial reservoirs, aquariums, and has also long been used in folk medicine.

Compound

Arrow leaf is a perennial plant of the Chastukhov family., living in shallow water, along the shores of overgrown lakes, swampy meadows with a depth of at least 1-2 meters. The short rhizome is covered with small tubers in the form of nuts.

An erect stem no more than a meter high, the lower part is immersed in water. The plant has 2 types of leaves. Some grow above water, have long petioles and arrow-shaped, pointed leaves. Others are wide and floating. They are immersed in water, and it is they that help the surface part stay afloat.

In June-July, small white flowers with a violet-purple spot bloom, collected in clusters of 3 pieces. Arrowhead is widespread throughout Europe and Asia, in Australia. In some areas it is included in the register of protected plant species. In many countries it is grown as a food plant. Other names: swampweed, sagittaria, water arrow.

All parts of the arrow leaf are considered medicinal raw materials, but the nut-like tubers are mainly used, in which the following are found:

• starch (up to 35%);
• protein (up to 10%);
• sugar (up to 4%);
• fatty acid;
• vitamin D, C, PP, group B;
• trace elements: potassium, calcium, selenium, copper, manganese, zinc, phosphorus;
• tannins;
• steroids.

Calorie content of tubers – 99 kcal per 100 g.

Beneficial features

Like most starch-containing drugs, the medicinal properties of dry arrowhead tubers are manifested by the following effect:

• astringent;
• wound healing;
• normalizing digestion;
• antiulcer;
• anti-inflammatory.

Swampweed extract is highly valued for its antitumor and antifungal properties.

Use in folk medicine

The starch in swamp tubers is easier to digest than potato or corn starch. Therefore, in alternative medicine it is more often used to treat:

• stomach ulcers;

• irritable bowel syndrome;
• prolonged diarrhea;
• food poisoning.

Additionally:

• thanks to tannins, an aqueous decoction of the roots stops internal bleeding, including hemorrhoidal bleeding;
• a decoction of the leaves is used to treat fungal infections and infectious skin diseases;
• fresh leaves should be wiped dry and applied to the erysipelas to reduce pain during inflammation and speed up healing.

In addition to arrow leaf, herbalists also use other herbs in the treatment of the stomach and intestines:

• An infusion of licorice roots helps with stomach pain and cramps;
• a decoction of the herb - dried - is used in complex therapy in the treatment of gastritis;
• To prevent stomach diseases, indigestion, and dysbacteriosis, dried spirulina powder can be added to the diet.

Contraindications: The starch-rich nodules should be taken with caution by people suffering from diabetes and obesity. Pregnant and lactating women, children under 6 years of age, and people with a tendency to allergic reactions should not take swampweed preparations. Before starting the course you need to consult a doctor.

Helpful information

• The prepared starchy bog nodules are eaten fresh, boiled, and baked. When fresh they taste like nuts, when baked they taste like potatoes, when boiled they taste like peas. The resulting flour is used for pancakes, pancakes, flatbreads, and when baking bread. It surpasses potatoes in starch content, and wheat in protein content. Due to its high starch content, flour is suitable for brewing jelly and pudding. In Japan, certain types of swampweed with large tubers have been bred, and in North America it is called the “white potato of the Indians.”
• Arrow leaf is often used to decorate the coastal zone of small ponds and artificial reservoirs. Moreover, it takes root in all types of design: from natural and rustic to exotic. In addition, fish feed on underground sprouts and roots, and waterfowl happily pluck the above-water greens.
• The plant is also used to feed domestic animals.

How to collect, dry, store

Nutritious nodules are collected during the growing season - in spring or autumn. From each plant you can collect 10-15 nodules.

Procurement rules:

• pull the plant out of the water and cut off the above-ground part;
• Sort out the collected rhizomes, clean the tubers from small roots;
• rinse the nodules in running water and cut into slices;
• Place the circles on paper and dry in the sun;
• To obtain flour, the dried circles must be additionally dried in the oven;
• store no more than a year.

Did you find the information about a simple but useful arrow leaf useful? Perhaps you have ever prepared or tried dishes made from swamp tubers?

Along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water you can often see an amazing plant, which is popularly called bogweed.

Its scientific designation is common arrowhead.

It is a wonderful decoration for the lake, it can also be eaten and used for healing purposes.

General description of the plant

Arrowhead is a perennial plant that grows near water. Belongs to the monocot family Chastukhov. It was brought from Asian countries. A large number of its species are found in the wild of tropical regions. This name comes from the expression sagittal, which in Latin means arrow, since the petals have a pointed shape.

This is a green plant with pointed leaves, having small snow-white flowers with a pink center. Pollinated by bees and other insects.

Sagittaria can be found in shallow waters or near the shores; it has interestingly shaped leaves located on top of the water. Blooms in early or mid-summer.

The buds are large and white. Fruit ripening at the end of August. They float on top of the water for months, swimming long distances. In mid-November, the stem and petals dry out, leaving only the tuber in the ground. And in early spring, young shoots appear from it.

Beneficial features

The nutritional qualities of arrow leaf are determined by the components that are included in its structure. It contains a lot of starch (up to 32%), much more than in potatoes. Considered the most famous polysaccharide, it fills the stomach and does not cause weight gain. This carbohydrate is perfectly accepted by the body and does not cause harm.

Problems with digestion are usually caused by thermally unprocessed vegetables and fruits containing starch in large quantities. Since the tubers of the perennial are eaten boiled or baked, it only brings benefits and does not cause any problems.

Scientists have proven that starch-containing vegetables have a positive effect on the health of people who have peptic ulcers, restore digestion, and control blood sugar levels. There is information that starch effectively fights cancer.

In terms of the presence of chemical elements found in the nodules of swampweed, it is similar to potatoes, with the difference that the aquatic plant contains several times more starch and protein. In its raw form, it tastes bitter, but it is more pleasant to eat after heat treatment.

The plant contains a lot of vitamins A, B, C, E, and minerals such as calcium, potassium, sodium. There are also plant pigments, sterols, and astringents.

Types of mireweed

Arrowhead is a genus of aquatic perennials growing in temperate and tropical regions. There are several types of this plant:

• Common - has linear underwater leaves and erect aerial inflorescences ranging in size from 7 to 16 cm. Depending on the growing environment, it forms petals of several different shapes.
• Broadleaf - has spreading leaves 3-4 cm wide and up to 23 cm long. The decorative species is perfect for planting in an aquarium with cichlids. This bogweed grows remarkably well in good light in coarse-grained soil.
• Dwarf - a low-growing species that forms a thick bridge of thin, long leaves of bright green color. It grows up to 10 cm and is used to decorate small aquariums. This is an undemanding crop, suitable for beginning gardeners.
• Subulate - can be land and underwater. Both types are very different from each other. The first is of medium height with stems resembling threads. As this flower grows in water, it changes to resemble a herbaceous, river-type arrowhead. The transformation process is accompanied by the shedding of crowns, so you should not throw it away. Young shoots quickly appear on the bare stems, which can be seen with the naked eye.
• Japanese is a fairly new type grown in Japan. This is a decorative flowering coastal bush with large, arrow-shaped leaves. Blooms with velvety light pink inflorescences.
• Floating is the simplest wild rosemary, growing, as a rule, at the mouths of rivers, on the shores of lakes and swamps.

Features of cultivation

To grow arrowhead on your property, it is not necessary to make a pond; it is enough to provide the plant with comfortable conditions for growth; you can even plant it in the ground. Mostly grass loves water bodies with reduced flow.

It can grow without going deep into water, but the soil must be well moistened. It adapts remarkably well to life in the ground, although it requires constant watering. Arrowhead grows where there is the maximum amount of sun. For good growth and fruiting, you need soil in which there is enough silt. Possible propagation of perennials:

• seeds;
• tubers;
• crushing the bush;
• self-seeding.

When growing in aquariums, you need to pay special attention to the water temperature, which should be between 18-20 degrees. You also need to regularly update the water volume by about a quarter of the aquarium throughout the week.

Use in cooking

In many countries, swampweed is used as an edible plant. In Asia, it is specially grown for food purposes, since the tubers and roots can be eaten. It is unique in that the nodules grow only in spring and autumn, and in the hot season they are not suitable for consumption.

The fruit, which grows at the end of underground roots, is rich in starch. It is good to bake it on coals or boil it. When baked it has a nutty flavor.

In North America, this fruit is so popular that it is called the white Indian potato. Fans claim that its taste is similar to baked chestnuts. In Asia, arrowhead is cultivated as a vegetable from which starch is obtained. In Paris, chefs make gourmet dishes from bogwort. Dry pieces of the fruit are used to obtain bran, which is good to add to the dough when baking bread.

In order to grind bogweed flour, the fruits, cut into round pieces, must be dried in the oven. Bran is great for adding to jelly, cream, homemade aspic. Since tubers contain a lot of starch, this makes it possible to use them as a natural thickener.

Baked Swampweed

The root vegetable tastes delicious, which makes it possible to cook it together with other, more familiar ingredients. It goes well with pork, which is good to bake in the oven. To do this, the nodules must first be boiled in water, after adding salt, peeled, and the pulp cut. At the same time, season the pork with garlic, salt and pepper. It is necessary to place the prepared meat and pieces of fruit on a baking sheet in layers, wrap in foil and bake for an hour at medium temperature.

Tuber puree

A light and interesting dish made from swampweed. To prepare one serving, you need to take 200 grams of fruit, a cup of milk, salt and sugar. Wash the nodules thoroughly in their raw form, and then boil them in salted water. After cooling completely, peel them and grind them in a food processor. Add all the remaining ingredients to this puree and cook until smooth.

Use in folk medicine

Common arrowhead is used not only for cooking, but also in healers’ recipes. For healing, you can take both a fresh plant and a dried one. Swampweed root has astringent and tonic properties.

It is effective for problems with the intestines or stomach. The extract can be used as a wonderful remedy against fungi and neoplasms. For skin inflammation, it is good to apply young petals to the affected area, because they have wound-healing properties.

Researchers have proven that this product:

• normalizes food digestion processes;
• has a beneficial effect on healing ulcers;
• regulates blood glucose levels;
• has antiseptic properties;
• replenishes the lack of vitamins.

In ancient times, arrowhead root was used to treat insanity. With the help of tannins that are part of this herb, you can stop bleeding. A decoction of the stems can cure psoriasis and infectious skin lesions.

Potential Harm

Arrowhead is considered a safe inflorescence, but still some people often experience individual intolerance. Excessive consumption of foods containing this carbohydrate may result in increased gas formation and colitis. Those who have difficulty losing extra pounds, or who have diabetes, should treat this plant with caution.

Arrow leaf can be used to design and decorate the coastal areas of any body of water, so it will be much more beautiful. It goes well with other plants and is perfect for creating both classic and exotic styles. Against the background of bright greenery, all plants will look quite harmonious. With proper care, the plant will thank you with beautiful flowering.

Collection and storage

The roots of the swampweed are not very long. The plant has strong and drooping nut-shaped fruits. There are about ten of them on each stem. It is better to collect tubers in spring or autumn, when the active life of the plant occurs. To harvest this healing edible perennial, the fruits are washed well, cut into circles and dried in the fresh air. After the fruits have dried, it is advisable to store them in a cool, dark place.

Common arrowhead (Swampweed): properties

Calorie content: 99 kcal.

Energy value of the product: Common arrowhead (Swampweed): Proteins: 5.33 g.

Fat: 0.29 g.
Carbohydrates: 20.23 g.

Common arrowhead (Swampweed) is a perennial aquatic plant that grows near bodies of water, as evidenced by its second name. Arrowhead is a representative of the Chastukhov family. The plant is native to Asia. Growing wild, most species of arrowhead are found in tropical regions. The plant got its name from the word “sagittal”, which is translated from Latin as arrow. The fact is that the leaves of this grass resemble arrows (see photo). Arrow leaf is a herbaceous plant with pointed leaves, blooming with three small flowers, each of which has white petals with a crimson spot. The plant is pollinated by insects.

Marsh grass can be used as an ornamental plant to decorate the coastal zone; this will only make any body of water more attractive. Marshwort combines well with other aquatic plants and is great for creating both classic and exotic styles. The arrowhead has some differences that are typical for this type of plant. There are three types of plants depending on where they grow. The arrow-shaped species is found in shallow water or on the shore; it has characteristically shaped flood leaves and blooms in July. Plant species that have adapted to depth have yellow-green translucent petals; this type of bogweed never blooms.

Growing

In order to grow arrowhead, it is not necessary to have your own pond; the main thing is to provide the swamp with the necessary conditions, which will allow it to be grown even on the ground. The common arrowhead prefers bodies of water, mainly with standing water. Of course, swampweed can grow without immersion in water, but still the substrate must be sufficiently moistened. The marsh plant adapts well to life in the ground, although it requires regular watering. The plant can often be found in sunny places. For better growth and development, silty soil should be selected for it. The swampweed reproduces by seeds or division.

Collection and storage

Arrowhead nodules are collected in spring or autumn, during which time the plant is in its growing season. Swampweed has short roots, dense rhizomes and hanging nut nodules. Each plant has 10-15 tubers.

In order to prepare this useful food plant, the nodules are thoroughly washed, then cut into slices and left in the open air. After the circles have dried, they can be stored in a cool room. To obtain swampweed flour, the nodules, cut into circles, should be dried in the oven.

Flour from the plant is perfect for making various jelly, creams, and homemade jellies. The fact is that the nodules contain a large amount of starch, which allows the product to be used as a thickener.

Tubers are also loved by animals, such as rabbits, so the plant can be used in the household as food.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of arrowhead are due to the substances included in its composition. The plant contains a lot of starch (about 32%), which is even more than in potatoes. Starch is one of the most common polysaccharides; it fills the stomach well, but does not contribute to weight gain. In general, starch is well absorbed by the body and does not cause harm. Digestive difficulties can be caused by raw vegetables or fruits that contain large amounts of starch. Since arrowhead nodules are consumed boiled or baked, the product will bring more benefits than possible harm. Scientists have proven that starch-containing products have a beneficial effect on the patient’s condition with peptic ulcer disease, normalize digestion, and regulate blood sugar levels. There is also evidence that starch is effective in the fight against cancer. Excessive consumption of starchy foods may result in flatulence, bloating, and stomach cramps.

The chemical composition of edible swamp nodules is similar to that of potatoes, with the difference that the aquatic plant contains twice as much starch and five times as much protein. When fresh, bogwort has a bitter aftertaste, which completely disappears after heat treatment. The nodules of the plant are less watery. The plant is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, as well as mineral elements such as calcium, potassium, sodium. The nodules also contain flavonoids, steroids, and tannins.

Use in cooking

In cooking, swampweed is used as a food plant. The nodules, which are located at the end of the underground shoots, are rich in starch. In Asia, the plant is specially cultivated for food purposes. The peculiarity of the arrowhead is that the nodules appear only in spring and autumn, and in the summer the bogwort is unsuitable for food.

The nodules have a pleasant taste, which allows them to be cooked together with other, more traditional products. Thus, the plant goes well with pork, which is baked together with bog nodules. First, the nodules are boiled in salted water, then the skin is removed and the pulp is chopped. At the same time, the pork is stuffed with garlic, salt and pepper. Half of the chopped nodules are laid out on foil, stuffed meat is placed on them, and the remaining nodules are sprinkled on top. The pork is wrapped tightly in foil and baked in the oven for an hour.

Arrowhead nodules have a pleasant taste that resembles nuts, and after heat treatment they become like peas. If you bake the nodules, they will taste like potatoes. A simple and tasty dish is porridge made from the nodules of this plant. For one serving of porridge you will need 200 grams of tubers, a glass of milk, salt and sugar. Fresh nodules are thoroughly washed and then boiled in salt water. As soon as the nodules have cooled a little, they need to be peeled and the pulp passed through a meat grinder. Add milk, sugar, and salt to taste to the resulting arrowleaf puree and continue to cook until the desired consistency.

In North America, the plant's nodules are so popular that they are called Indian white potatoes. Gourmets claim that the plant tastes like baked chestnuts. In China, arrowhead is grown as a vegetable plant for its starch. In Siberia, arrowhead nodules are usually consumed baked. When boiled, the plant acquires a pleasant pea flavor. In France, chefs prepare real delicacies from bog nodules. The dried tubers are used to make flour, which can be used to bake bread.

Benefits of common arrowhead and treatment

The benefits of swampweed are known in folk medicine. The plant is used for erysipelas; for this purpose, fresh arrowhead leaves are applied to the affected areas. The plant is valuable for its wound healing and astringent properties.

Arrowhead rhizomes have a pronounced astringent effect, which allows this part of the plant to be used for medicinal purposes. Dry tubers are used as a tonic for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Swampweed extract is highly valued in traditional medicine due to its antifungal and antitumor properties.

Harm of common arrowhead and contraindications

Swampweed can cause harm to the body due to individual intolerance. Use tubers with caution for obesity, diabetes. If you have these diseases, you should consult your doctor.

There are about 20 species of arrowhead, which are distributed mainly in the temperate and tropical zones of America, as well as in Eurasia. Widespread in Russia common arrowhead. Grows in reservoirs with stagnant and slowly flowing water, along the banks; often forms extensive thickets. It can go to depths of up to 5 m, but at greater depths it does not form flowers and has only underwater leaves. The plant cannot self-pollinate because its flowers are unisexual. Pollinated by a variety of insects, as well as snails.

Arrowhead fruits have subepidermal air-bearing tissue, therefore they have the ability to float on the surface of the water for several months, spreading with the help of water birds, and being carried with lumps of soil on the legs of an animal or person. The stalks of the plant contain milky sap, and if you tear off a leaf or flower, a whitish liquid will flow from the stem. The leaves of this species attract attention with their unusual shape. The triangular leaf of the arrowhead closely resembles an arrowhead. Its leaves and stems die off by winter, and only the rhizome remains alive.

The shape of the leaves of the arrowhead depends on the depth at which the bush grows. On the shore or in very shallow water, only those leaves will develop for which this plant is called arrowhead. On long, hard petioles, large shiny arrow-shaped leaves with a deep notch at the petiole stick out almost vertically. The lower lobes of the leaf are almost equal in length to its entire part. If the arrowhead has grown deeper, it forms floating leaves along with arrow-shaped aerial leaves. They have a flexible petiole and leaf blades float on the surface of the water; they are also arrow-shaped, but more rounded. If the body of water is even deeper, arrowhead can only produce underwater leaves that never reach the surface of the water. They are transparent, light green and do not at all look like arrow-shaped or floating. They look most like ribbons and are described as belt-like.

Plants with all three types of leaves are rare, but there may be bushes with one or two types of leaves at the same time. Floating leaves are the least common type. Plants with only strap-shaped leaves do not bloom. To flower, they need at least one or two leaves to reach the surface of the water.

The short rhizome forms thin long side shoots ending in buds. By autumn, the end of the side shoot begins to thicken and turns into a nodule the size of a small nut, with a bud-spout. These nodules will overwinter and produce new plants in the spring.

The tubers contain up to 35% starch; the rhizome itself is also edible. It is eaten baked or boiled. The nodules are prepared in the same way; they can be prepared for future use by cutting them into slices and drying them. In Japan and China, arrowhead has been introduced into cultivation and even forms a special form, which differs from the main one in having larger leaves and tubers. Dry tubers of these plants contain 55% starch and 5.5% sugar.

Common arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia L.)

Arrow leaf belongs to herbaceous perennial plants and also has other names: water arrow, swamp grass, sagittaria. The distribution area in the wild extends from America to Europe (almost all of it) and Asia. In Japan and China it is bred exclusively for food consumption.

Arrowhead is a herbaceous perennial plant.

Plant characteristics

The common arrowhead must be completely or partially immersed in water. The phenomenon of heterophyly (the formation of leaves of different shapes), characteristic of it, allows it to have leaves both underwater and floating on the surface. Racemose inflorescences appear in mid-June and persist until the end of summer.

Its leaves are used in folk medicine to heal wounds and stop bleeding. Fresh leaves are used as dressings for erysipelas. The tannins contained in the plant are effective in the treatment of fungal diseases and infectious skin lesions. It is not recommended to use it:

• during pregnancy;
• during breastfeeding;
• for obesity;
• for diabetes mellitus;
• in childhood.

In case of individual intolerance to certain substances, caution should be exercised. The plant can be found in the official Register of Medicinal Herbs of Russia.

Varieties of arrowhead

About 40 species of arrowhead are found in natural conditions. Some varieties have decorative properties. Especially common when constructing ponds and aquariums types of saggittaria:

1. Ordinary. Arrow-shaped above-water and thread-like underwater leaves are bright green in color. The leaf blade can have a size from 7 to 16 cm. The plant is easy to recognize by its racemose white inflorescences that appear in July.
2. Karlikova. Used as an aquarium decoration due to its small size. An adult plant is about 10 cm in height.
3. Subulate. This species is distinguished by narrow leaves from 7 to 20 cm long. It is allowed to plant it not only when completely immersed in water, but also along the edges of reservoirs. Its unpretentiousness and resistance to pruning of unnecessary parts of the bush have made it an indispensable plant for aquarists.
4. Floating. This variety is distinguished by a rosette located at the base and a long stem. It produces oval, arrow-shaped leaves along its entire length. In nature, it is found near river banks and in shallow waters.

When growing any variety of arrowhead, you should follow the rules of propagation, planting and care. Swampweed is rarely grown from seeds due to the lack of such a need.

Planting and growing technology

The vegetative method of propagation is considered profitable. An adult plant easily reproduces by shoots or division. They divide the bush in spring or autumn: part of the shoots with soil is transferred to a new place. By November, new tubers form on the shoots (up to 15 pieces per season). If necessary, they should be divided and planted in moist soil.

The soil where arrowhead grows must be fertile, moist and silty. Silted fine sand is used for planting in an aquarium. It is laid out in a layer of up to 3 cm around the entire perimeter of the bottom. The root collar should be left on the surface. In stagnant water, planting to a depth of up to 30 cm is permissible. If the depth is incorrectly selected, the bush will not bloom.

Features of care

Due to its unpretentiousness swampweed easily adapts to different growing conditions. A place with diffused light will be the best for the plant. Arrowhead tolerates short periods of direct sunlight. Daylight hours should be up to 12 hours.

In the light, the color of the plant's leaves becomes darker. When growing in an aquarium, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water. If there are suspensions in the aquarium, a film forms on the leaves, which depresses the plants and prevents them from developing normally. To comply with sanitary standards, it is recommended to install filters and change ¼ of the water once a week.

Arrowhead easily adapts to various growing conditions

The water temperature should not exceed 25 ° C. The minimum thermometer readings should be within +10 ° C. Arrowhead tolerates winter well in open reservoirs under natural conditions. When ice forms on the surface, the roots are not affected and new shoots form in the spring.

When grown in dry areas plants need plenty of watering. The soil should not be allowed to dry out completely. Experienced gardeners recommend placing plants in pots that do not have holes for drainage. The containers are filled with soil and water to the very brim.

During flowering and reproduction, the bushes need mineral feeding. Add it in the amount of 2 grams per 100 liters of water.

Use in cooking

Fresh water arrow tubers are used to prepare some dishes. When fresh, they have a slight bitterness, but after heat treatment it disappears. The presence of starch and protein makes it similar in taste to potatoes.

Swamp contains vitamins A, B, C, E and has a pleasant aroma. The tubers of the plant are often used for roasting meat. First you need to boil them in salted water and peel the skin. The product is collected in spring and autumn during the formation of young tubers underground.

Arrow leaf is an amazing plant that can not only be used to decorate an aquarium or pond, but also used for cooking. If you have digestive diseases, it is recommended to consult a doctor before consuming the product.

Common arrowhead (or popularly known as swampweed) is another plant that can come in handy during off-grid survival! Well, we’ll tell you how and with what!

The fact is that the common arrowhead is good not only because it grows in many countries of America, Europe and Asia, and actually in the vast expanses of Mother Russia (in European territory, the Caucasus and Siberia), but it is also easily distinguishable from other plants by its memorable appearance! Namely, leaves shaped like arrowheads.

Common arrowhead (leaves)

Finding it is also relatively simple, because all arrowheads live in the water (in various bodies of water, near leisurely streams and rivers) near the shore. Despite the fact that the plant can reach a height of about a meter, almost all of it is hidden under water; only leaves and white flowers (at the time of flowering) are located on the surface. Bloom takes place in July or August.

Arrow leaf blooms

Benefits of Arrowhead for Survival

Arrow leaf has long been used not only in folk medicine (which we won’t write about here), but also for all sorts of decorative purposes, for example, to decorate your own ponds; it goes very well with other plants... We are interested in the use of this plant specifically for survival !

And here everything is quite simple, arrowhead is a food crop! This means that it can be eaten and not easily - it is prepared in restaurants in many countries around the world! But don’t rush to chew everything, there are certain nuances!!! The nodules of the plant are edible; they can be consumed only at the moment of their formation, in spring and autumn; in other seasons (summer and winter) they are not suitable for food!

Edible (spring and autumn) tubers of the Common Arrowhead

From the harvested tubers it would be possible to prepare a bunch of dishes that are well compatible with more traditional products (if, in survival conditions, there was everything necessary for this). IN otherwise You can also eat it raw; it will taste like a nut, but with a bitter aftertaste. But it’s still better to resort to heat treatment, which changes the taste depending on the cooking method. If you first open it in water with salt and then simmer it, it resembles peas; when baked, it looks more like potatoes! Also, if time allows, you can dry the arrowhead tubers, grind them into flour and bake bread.

The benefit of arrowhead tubers is not only that you can gain strength and not stick your fins together from hunger in an extreme situation, but also in its composition! Swamp tubers are rich in vitamins A, C, E, B, starch and protein. They have a tonic effect and will be beneficial for the stomach.

In addition to nutritional properties, arrowhead leaves have a wound-healing effect.

Eat with caution!

Despite the fact that the plant itself is considered harmless to humans, under certain circumstances it can still pose some danger. The fact is that some people have an individual intolerance to this product! And due to the high starch content, overweight people or people with diabetes may experience digestive problems!

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Along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water you can often see an amazing plant, which is popularly called bogweed.

Its scientific designation is common arrowhead.

It is a wonderful decoration for the lake, it can also be eaten and used for healing purposes.

General description of the plant

Arrowhead is a perennial plant that grows near water. Belongs to the monocot family Chastukhov. It was brought from Asian countries. A large number of its species are found in the wild of tropical regions. This name comes from the expression sagittal, which in Latin means arrow, since the petals have a pointed shape.

The fruit, which grows at the end of underground roots, is rich in starch. It is good to bake it on coals or boil it. When baked it has a nutty flavor.

In North America, this fruit is so popular that it is called the white Indian potato. Fans claim that its taste is similar to baked chestnuts. In Asia, arrowhead is cultivated as a vegetable from which starch is obtained. In Paris, chefs make gourmet dishes from bogwort. Dry pieces of the fruit are used to obtain bran, which is good to add to the dough when baking bread.