Sparganium natans Least Bur-reed

A perennial aquatic, with short creeping rhizomes, wbich grows in sheltered, shallow, mesotrophic or oligotrophic water. It is the smallest of the British bur-reeds with un-keeled, blunt-tipped, floating  leaves, shorter than those of either Floating Bur-reed (Spatganium angustifolium) or Unbranched Bur-reed (Sparganium emersum). The inflorescence usually has one male head (sometimes two) and below that two (or three) female heads which produce fruits that are beaked. Flowers are wind pollinated and the fruits are dispersed in water. It is northern species which has been lost from many of its lowland sites in England and Wales since the middle of the last century and only at all frequent in the uplands of Scotland. It is very uncommon in Wales and on the rare plans register in those vice counties where it does occur. It is very rare in Glamorgan and at present only known in West Glamorgan from the Glan y wern Canal in Crymyn Bog and in some shallow pools near Blaengwrach in Neath Port Talbot.

Native