familyButomaceae
genusButomus
Show Lower Taxa
Butomus
Sp. Pl. 1: 372. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5; 174, 1754.
Common names: Flowering-rush
Etymology: Greek butomos/butomon, marsh plant from Greek bous, cow, and temno, to cut referring to sharp leaves, known or believed to cut mouths of cattle
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 22.
Plants in fresh water to 2 m deep. Leaves emersed, submersed, or floating; blade triangular proximally, flattened distally. Inflorescences overtopping leaves; scape trianglular; bracts 3, subtending umbel. Flowers: tepals light pink-purple with darker purple veins; stamens in 2 cycles, outer cycle of 3 pairs opposite outer tepals, inner cycle of 3 opposite inner tepals; anthers ovoid; pistils pink. Fruits leathery, beaked.
Distribution
Introduced; North America, Eurasia.
Discussion
Species 1.
Selected References
None.