Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.128680
Element CodePMCYP0Q0Z0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusBolboschoenus
SynonymsSchoenoplectus maritimus(L.) LyeScirpus maritimusL.Scirpus maritimus var. fernaldii(Bickn.)BeetleScirpus paludosus var. atlanticusFern.
Other Common Namescosmopolitan bulrush (EN) Cosmopolitan Bulrush (EN) Saltmarsh Clubrush (EN) Scirpe maritime (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 CommentsFNA (vol. 23, 2002) transfers Schoenoplectus maritimus to Bolboschoenus maritimus. Scirpus maritimus is treated as Schoenoplectus maritimus by Kartesz (1999) and included Scirpus paludosus, but excluded Scirpus robustus and S. tuberosus (as treated by Kartesz, 1994 checklist and 1999 Synthesis). A Clayton specimen from Virginia, identifiable as Scirpus robustus, rather than a narrowly treated S. maritimus, had been considered to be the type of Scirpus maritimus, but a different Linnaean specimen from Sweden, collected by O. Celsius [not Anders Celsius!] and representing Scirpus maritimus as more narrowly treated, has been designated as lectotype (Smith and Kukkonen, Taxon 48: 355-357, 1999).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-07-18
Change Date1988-02-11
Edition Date2024-07-18
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsBolboschoenus maritimus is a perennial graminoid and worldwide species complex with several varieties and putative hybrids in brackish to saline coastal and inland shores and marshes occurring in North America from Alaska, United States and Canada (except Labrador) south to California east to Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, Mexico, and South America (Argentina, Peru), Eurasia, Africa, and Hawaii. Threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance and expansion, recreational activities, pollution, invasive species, sea-level rise, and storm surge. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsBolboschoenus maritimus is a worldwide species complex with several varieties and putative hybrids occurring in North America from Alaska, United States and Canada (except Labrador) south to California east to Louisiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, Mexico, and South America (Argentina, Peru), Eurasia, Africa, and Hawaii (FNA 2002).
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 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance and expansion, recreational activities, pollution, invasive species, sea-level rise, storm surge, and other threats in some places.