The plant referred to as “Katniss” is formally known by the common name Broadleaf Arrowhead or Duck Potato, and its scientific designation is Sagittaria latifolia. This perennial aquatic plant is native to a broad range across North and Central America, thriving in wet, marshy environments. It has served for centuries as a reliable food source for indigenous populations, and recently gained modern recognition as a cultural reference point.
Identifying the Broadleaf Arrowhead
The Broadleaf Arrowhead, a member of the Water Plantain family (Alismataceae), is an emergent plant typically found in the saturated soils of marshes, ponds, and the edges of slow-moving streams. Its most distinguishing feature is the large, arrow-shaped leaves, which inspired both the common name “arrowhead” and the genus name Sagittaria (Latin for arrow). These leaves emerge from the base of the plant, often reaching lengths of up to 50 centimeters, with two prominent, pointed basal lobes.
Flowering occurs during the summer months, with the plant producing an erect stalk up to 120 centimeters in height. Along this stalk, small white flowers bloom in whorls of three, each featuring three white petals and a cluster of yellow or green reproductive parts. The plant spreads vigorously through underground runners called stolons, allowing it to form dense colonies.
The Edible Tuber and Its Historical Use
The edible part of the Broadleaf Arrowhead is a starchy, potato-like tuber that grows at the ends of the plant’s submerged rhizomes. Often referred to as “duck potato” or “wapato,” these tubers are generally small (0.5 to 5 centimeters in diameter) and are produced primarily in late summer and autumn. They serve as a nutrient storage organ, rich in carbohydrates.
Historically, this tuber was a staple food for numerous indigenous groups across North America, including the Chippewa, Omaha, and Chinook nations. The traditional harvesting method involved dislodging the tubers from the mud with one’s feet or a digging stick, allowing the buoyant corms to float to the water’s surface for collection.
The harvested tubers must be cooked before consumption to improve texture and palatability, as eating them raw can result in a bitter taste. Once cooked, the flavor is often described as resembling a cross between a potato and a chestnut, offering a dense, mealy texture. They were prepared in various ways, including boiling, roasting in hot ashes, or drying and grinding them into flour.
Why the Plant is Called Katniss
The name “Katniss” is one of the plant’s traditional indigenous names, specifically the Lenape term for the Broadleaf Arrowhead. This name is rooted in the plant’s long history as a reliable food source near North American waterways. It gained significant contemporary recognition due to its use in Suzanne Collins’ popular The Hunger Games book and film series.
Collins named her protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, after the plant to symbolize the character’s profound connection to nature and her ability to survive through foraging. The fictional character is depicted as a skilled forager who relies on wild plants for sustenance, mirroring the real-world role of the Sagittaria latifolia tuber as a life-sustaining food source.