Flowering-rush [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]

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.

Species 1: introduced, North America; Eurasia.

Lower Taxon

• Butomus umbellatus Linnaeus