Sparganium emersum - Unbranched Bur-reed - (Sparganiaceae)

This water-plant can be found in southern and central UK and in the more northerly parts of Ireland.

Found growing in the water at the edges of lakes and slow-flowing rivers, unbranched bur-reed can reach a height of a metre or so. The flower stalk is unbranched (unlike its relative the branched bur-reed in which branched stems bear the flowers).

Unbranched bur-reed

Each unbranched stem bears four or five female flower clusters, some of which may have stalks, below an array of smaller male flower clusters.

The picture on this page was taken at Kenfig National Nature Reserve in South Wales in July.