Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia) (mamptu-Kalapuyan) is on the rise in the Salem area. Three sites are known to host the plant, Lake Labish, Minto-Brown Island Park and a small patch at Wallace Marine Park. The Minto-Brown colony is very small, the wapato seems to be a smaller leaf variety. There is a different area of the park, on the slough, where employees of the Grand Ronde tribe and I planted some last year. I have yet to see the wapato in the park this year (2024). Last year David Craig (Biology, Willamette U.) informed me about the small colony under the train bridge at Wallace Marine Park. I was too late to see the wapato in 2023, but today went to see the site. It is a very nice little colony, fed by the river and sitting back in a slough area. The site is unattractive to beach-goers, even more unattractive than sitting on a rocky riverside! The slough is close by the boat launch on the left hand side. The area has lots of mud and is slippery to get close to. The wapato appears to be the thin leaf variety, and seems to be doing well, expanding their territory along the edge of the shoreline. I worry a little about the potential pollutants in this colony, fed by the Willamette, which is very dirty and there is lots of trash around, homeless encampments, and likely drug use. But still it is good to see the wapato doing well. This year, I might begin to harvest from here to relocate the plants to Minto-Brown Island Park to help that colony.
June 9 2024, Wapato at WMP
June 9 2024, Wapato at WMP
June 9 2024, Wapato at WMP
June 9 2024, Detail wapato at WMP
Minto-Brown Park Wapato Treks – The Quartux Journal
[…] (Sagittaria- Latin). The plants in all areas are coming up well this year (2024 Labish trek) (2024 Wallace Trek). Plenty of water and good soils and sunlight have made them healthy this summer. I went to […]