Algae and Plants
73
Orontium aquaticum (Linnaeus)
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Common name: Golden club.
Distribution: Native range: Eastern
United States.
Habitat: Ponds, streams, and shallow
lakes.
Description: It is a rhizomatous marginal aquatic perennial. It grows 1–2 ft
tall and spreads indefinitely by stout,
slowly creeping rhizomes. Longstalked elliptic dark bluish green leaves
(to 30 cm long) are submerged, floating,
or aerial. Inflorescence is most notable
for having an extremely small, almost
indistinguishable sheath surrounding the spadix, which is 20 cm tall.
The  root  and seed of this species are
edible.
Nutritional Facts
Proximate Composition (% DM)
Ash
Fat
Protein
7.38
14.88
49.6
Amino Acids (% DM)
Arginine
3.17
Histidine
1.02
Isoleucine
2.32
Leucine
4.30
Methionine
0.84
Phenylalanine
2.80
Threonine
2.26
Valine
2.55
Source: Data from Boyd (1968b).