These are two different plants, and not even that closely related (note that they are not classified in the same genus). They do grow to a similar size, the leaves have a similar arrowlike shape, and they prefer the same kind of habitat. Both plants grow in constantly wet soil to up to about a foot of standing water. Their native territory overlaps throughout large portions of North America, so these two plants can often be seen in the same areas of a given wetland.
Arrow Arum is also called Tuckahoe (which is derived from its Algonquin Indian name) and Bog Arum, and Duck Corn. Peltandra virginica is its scientific name. Arrow Arum grows in wetlands all over eastern North America. Animals such as muskrats and ducks eat the seeds (which explains why it is sometimes known as Duck Corn). The Arrow Arum at the Phinizy Swamp has leaves that are more curly and three-dimensional than the Duck Potato plant, but other populations in other areas can have somewhat flatter leaves. If you examine the branching patterns of the veins in the leaves, you will see that they are different from Duck Potato.
More about Arrow Arum:
If you were trying to live off the land, it would be especially important to be able to tell Arrow Arum from Duck Potato because, although both plants have starchy tubers attached to their root systems, the tubers from Arrow Arum are poisonous unless prepared very carefully. Various Native American peoples knew how to prepare Arrow Arum tubers for eating, usually by boiling and/or drying them for long periods to neutralize the toxin.
If you were trying to live off the land, it would be especially important to be able to tell Arrow Arum from Duck Potato because, although both plants have starchy tubers attached to their root systems, the tubers from Arrow Arum are poisonous unless prepared very carefully. Various Native American peoples knew how to prepare Arrow Arum tubers for eating, usually by boiling and/or drying them for long periods to neutralize the toxin.
Duck Potato can also be called Broadleaf Arrowhead, or Indian Potato, or Wapato. In fact, there are a number of Indian names for this plant, surely because the tubers of this plant are tasty, not at all poisonous, and easy to prepare. The scientific name is Sagittaria latifolia. Duck Potato was an important food source not only for Native American peoples, but also for some European colonists in North America. Duck Potato grows in wetlands across most of North America.
More about Duck Potato:
In the Phinizy Swamp, the populations of Duck Potato have flatter leaves than Arrow Arum. But a surer way to tell the difference is to look at the veining patterns on the leaves. Duck Potato leaves have veins that branch from a central point, in a starlike pattern, as compared to the branching veins of Arrow Arum. Ducks readily eat the seeds, but do they actually eat the starchy tubers? Sources disagree. However, beavers, porcupines, and muskrats eat the entire plant. Ducks certainly eat the seeds.
In the photo are left, I really like how all the Duck Potato leaves are pointing up in the sunlight, like shovel heads.
For information about visiting the Phinizy Swamp: http://naturalsciencesacademy.org/
In the Phinizy Swamp, the populations of Duck Potato have flatter leaves than Arrow Arum. But a surer way to tell the difference is to look at the veining patterns on the leaves. Duck Potato leaves have veins that branch from a central point, in a starlike pattern, as compared to the branching veins of Arrow Arum. Ducks readily eat the seeds, but do they actually eat the starchy tubers? Sources disagree. However, beavers, porcupines, and muskrats eat the entire plant. Ducks certainly eat the seeds.
In the photo are left, I really like how all the Duck Potato leaves are pointing up in the sunlight, like shovel heads.
For information about visiting the Phinizy Swamp: http://naturalsciencesacademy.org/
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