Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

(K. C. Gmelin) Palla

Softstem Bulrush

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148187
Element CodePMCYP0Q1H0
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
Schoenoplectus lacustris ssp. validus(Vahl) T. KoyamaSchoenoplectus validus(Vahl) A. & D. LoveScirpus tabernaemontaniK.C. Gmel.Scirpus tabernaemontaniiK.C. Gmel.
Other Common Names
Scirpe des étangs (FR) softstem 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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-27
Change Date1988-02-11
Edition Date2025-06-27
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is a perennial, wetland grass-like plant that grows throughout much of North America and around the world. With a large range extent, more than 2000 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is a cosmopolitan species found on every continent, including all of North America north of Mexico, except Arctic regions (FNA 2002). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 2000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani is potentially threatened by development, water management, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani grows in "fresh to brackish marshes, fens, bogs, lakes, stream banks and bars, pioneering in disturbed places, often emergent in water to 1 m [deep]" (FNA 2002).
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
DelawareS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
North CarolinaS4Yes
West VirginiaS5Yes
IndianaS5Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
GeorgiaS4Yes
UtahSNRYes
WyomingS4Yes
WisconsinSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
KentuckyS4Yes
IdahoSNRYes
HawaiiSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
ArkansasSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
MarylandSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
OhioSNRYes
North DakotaSNRYes
KansasS5Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
New JerseyS5Yes
LouisianaSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
MississippiS2Yes
MichiganSNRYes
ArizonaSNRYes
IllinoisS4Yes
South DakotaSNRYes
AlaskaSNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
IowaSNRYes
FloridaS4Yes
NevadaS2Yes
OklahomaSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
New YorkS5Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS5Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS2Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
New BrunswickS5Yes
OntarioS5Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
Nova ScotiaS5Yes
Prince Edward IslandS4Yes
SaskatchewanS4Yes
LabradorSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undeterminedUnknownUnknownUnknown

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pond Pine BCroatan National Forest2,961
References (7)
  1. 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.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).