Bur-reed is a sedge that is occasionally found growing in marshes, wet hammocks, and the edges of ponds and streams from the northern counties south to the central peninsula of Florida (Wunderlin, 2003). It is recognized by its stalk of large spherical bur-like flower clusters; spherical heads about 1 inch in diameter. Sparganium americanum blooms in the spring and occurs almost always (estimated probability 99%) under natural conditions in wetlands.
Bur-reed is a sedge. stems to 2 ft. tall; leaf blades strap-like, thickish, to 1 in. wide, bright green, 2-ranked, ascending, flat above, becoming “channeled” below, taller than the inflorescence; inflorescence axis thick, somethat zigzag, with a few spherical heads of flowers, heads green in early season, becoming brown and bur-like later; fruits are achenes with beaks.