Home/Species/ Water Bulrush

Schoenoplectus subterminalis

(Torr.) Sojak

Water Bulrush

G5Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.160801

Element CodePMCYP0Q1G0

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

Synonyms

Scirpus subterminalisTorr.

Other Common Names

Scirpe subterminal (FR) swaying bulrush (EN) Swaying Bulrush (EN)

Concept Reference

Kartesz, 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 Comments

Has been treated as Scirpus subterminalis (e.g. Kartesz 1994).

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2015-09-21

Change Date2015-09-21

Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)

Rank Reasons

Patchy distribution through northern North America, with hundreds to thousands of occurrences.

Range Extent Comments

Spotty distribution from southern Alaska to Oregon, disjunct to Northeastern North America south to Georgia.

Threat Impact Comments

Some low-level threats from drainage of wetlands such as beaver ponds and bogs and the lack of disturbance, succession resulting from the removal of beavers from the environment (Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project 2002).

Ecology & Habitat

Description

Water Bulrush is a rhizomatous perennial with slender, weak stems that are 20-80 cm long and which float on the water's surface rather than emerging from it. Leaves are long and flaccid and arise mainly from near the base of the plant. The inflorescence consists of a solitary spike subtended by a green, leaf-like bract that is 1-6 cm long and held nearly erect, appearing to be a continuation of the stem. The light brown spike is composed of numerous, membranous scales, each subtending a flower consisting of 3 stamens and an ovary with 6 slender bristles arising from the base. The ovary matures into a three-sided achene that is 2-4 mm long.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The flaccid stems and aquatic habit distinguish this species from all other SCIRPUS in our area.

Habitat

Shallow water of ponds and streams.

Other Nations (2)

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Nova Scotia	S5	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Labrador	SU	Yes
Manitoba	S1	Yes
Quebec	S3	Yes
Saskatchewan	SH	Yes
New Brunswick	S5	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	S3	Yes
Ontario	S4	Yes
Prince Edward Island	S1	Yes

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Florida	S1	Yes
Connecticut	SNR	Yes
Vermont	S3	Yes
Wyoming	S1	Yes
California	S3	Yes
Indiana	S3	Yes
Rhode Island	S1	Yes
Oregon	S2	Yes
Ohio	S1	Yes
New York	S5	Yes
Alaska	S2	Yes
Missouri	S1	Yes
New Jersey	S4	Yes
Illinois	S1	Yes
South Carolina	S2	Yes
Delaware	S2	Yes
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
Georgia	SNR	Yes
Wisconsin	SNR	Yes
Massachusetts	SNR	Yes
Utah	SNR	Yes
Idaho	S3	Yes
Maryland	S1	Yes
Alabama	S1	Yes
Michigan	SNR	Yes
New Hampshire	SNR	Yes
Mississippi	S1	Yes
Tennessee	S1	Yes
Virginia	S1	Yes
North Carolina	S3	Yes
Pennsylvania	S3	Yes
Montana	S3	Yes
Washington	SNR	Yes
Maine	SNR	Yes

Plant Characteristics

Economic Value (Genus)No

Roadless Areas (2)

California (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Grouse Lakes	Tahoe National Forest	19,085

Montana (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Marston Face # 172	Kootenai National Forest	9,098

References (6)

Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
Hoitsma, T. 1992. Sensitive plant survey, Fortine Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest. Unpublished report. 65 pp. plus appendices.
Kartesz, 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.
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Moseley, R. K. 1991. Floristic inventory of wetlands in Fremont and Teton Counties, Idaho. Unpublished report. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, Idaho. 60 pp. plus appendices.
Southern Appalachian Species Viability Project. 2002. A partnership between the U.S. Forest Service-Region 8, Natural Heritage Programs in the Southeast, NatureServe, and independent scientists to develop and review data on 1300+ regionally and locally rare species in the Southern Appalachian and Alabama region. Database (Access 97) provided to the U.S. Forest Service by NatureServe, Durham, North Carolina.