A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Sagitta,-ae (s.f.I), an arrow, shaft, bolt; “(late Latin), an instrument for letting blood, a lancet” (Lewis & Short); the head of the arrow (sagitta,-ae (s.f.I) has basal barbs directed downward; the head of a spear (hasta,-ae (s.f.I), apparently has basal barbs that spread away from the central shaft;

- hastae cuspìdi aut sagittae similibus, floribus in caule pluribus; SAGITTARIA (Ray), similar to the cusp of a spear or arrow, with the flowers many on the stem.

- [MARANTA arundinacea]. Anglis vulgo “Arrowroot.” Apud Indianos in usu esse fertur, contusa, videlicet vulneribus ex sagittis venenatis admota (Swartz), with the English commonly [called] “Arrowroot.” By the [West] Indians it is reported to be in use [i.e. their practise or custom], namely ground, applied to wounds from poisoned arrows.

Sagittaria,-ae (s.f.I), Arrowhead, > L. sagitta, an arrow; from the form of the leaves. Alismataceae” (Stearn 1996).

NOTE: the epithet ‘sagittarioides’ means ‘resembling plants of the genus Sagittaria.’