Sagittaria latifolia was once widespread in the Pacific Northwest, but due to habitat destruction, it is now scarce. One place that it is decidedly not scarce is at Mirror Pond at Rooster Rock State Park. Mirror Pond is the small lake on the south side of I-84 at the foot of Crown Point.
It has several common names including arrowleaf, duck potato, and wapato. Sagittaria grows, often in masses, in shallow, quiet water.
The single leaves grow upright on 18" to 36" stems. In the late summer, a single flower stalk appears bearing several 4-petaled 1 inch diameter white blossoms with a yellow "button" center.
Ash Creek Images
Photographs of the West by Doug Gorsline
Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia) & Bulrushes Growing in Mirror Pond, Columbia Gorge.
