28 April 2011

Duck Potato and Bees






Duck Potato, Sagittaria latifolia, is one of my favorite wetland plants. The edible tuber was used by Native Americans but mostly has been forgotten by people now. Luckily at Green Cay it is used by the bees and insects. I just love the pollen sacks on the bee above. It's springtime in South Florida and though I could live without the skyrocking humidity levels, I do enjoy the flowers.

I thought it interesting that ducks don't eat the tubers, though they eat the seeds. Other wetland animals do eat the "potato" such as muskrats and beavers. What I would give to see that!

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