(Pers.) Volk. ex Schinz & R. Keller
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160106
Element CodePMCYP0Q020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusSchoenoplectus
SynonymsScirpus americanaPers.Scirpus americanusPers.
Other Common NamesAmerican bulrush (EN) Chairmaker's Bulrush (EN) chairmaker's bulrush (EN) Scirpe d'Amérique (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsIn their entry for Schoenoplectus americanus, Weakley et al. (2024) say, "Schuyler (1974) discussed the need to replace the name S. olneyi (as traditionally applied) with S. americanus, traditionally applied to what must now be called S. pungens. Because of this nomenclatural change, the interpretation of much information and records is now uncertain."
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-04-01
Change Date1984-09-06
Edition Date2024-04-01
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsSchoenoplectus americanus is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in tidal freshwater to brackish marshes, shores, and fens from Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Canada, Alaska, and Maine west to Washington and south to Florida west to California in the United States, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Threats include succession, alteration of hydrology, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and over 600 occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsSchoenoplectus americanus occurs in the Americas, from Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Canada, Alaska, and Maine west to Washington and south to Florida west to California in the United States, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Range extent was estimated to be almost 50 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 600 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Schoenoplectus americanus is threatened by succession, alteration of hydrology, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species.