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Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

(Bullrush)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Bullrush, Great Bulrush, River Club-Rush, Soft-Stem Bulrush, Softstem Bulrush

Common Names in French:

Scirpe Des étangs

Description

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Family Cyperaceae

Herbs, annual or perennial , cespitose or not, rhizomatous or not, stoloniferous or not. Roots fibrous , principally adventitious. Stems (culms ) usually trigonous , occasionally terete , rarely compressed , usually solid, rarely hollow or septate . Leaves basal and/or cauline, alternate, usually 3-ranked, rarely 2-ranked or multi-ranked, bases forming cylindric sheaths enclosing stem, margins usually fused; junction of sheaths and blades often with adaxial flaps of tissue or fringes of hair (ligules) ; blades frequently absent from some basal leaves , rarely from cauline leaves, when present divergent or ascending , flat, folded, plicate , rolled, or terete, linear , venation parallel. Primary inflorescences (spikelets ) a shortened axis; glumaceous bracts (scales ) 1-many, spirally arranged , sometimes 2-ranked, usually appressed or ascending; scales usually all fertile , each subtending a single flower, sometimes proximal and/or distal scales empty; lateral spikes often with basal, usually empty, usually 2-keeled scale (prophyll) ; occasionally prophyll subtending and enclosing rachilla, bearing 1 pistillate , sometimes (0-) 3 staminate flowers and empty scales (Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia) . Secondary inflorescences panicles, often modified to corymb, pseudoumbel, cyme (anthela), raceme , spike, or capitulum (head ), rarely single spike, usually subtended by foliaceous or, less frequently, glumaceous bracts; secondary inflorescences sometimes simulating spikelets (Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia) . Flowers hypogynous, bisexual in most genera, unisexual in Scleria, Carex, Cymophyllus, and Kobresia; perianth absent or with (1-) 3-6(-30) bristles and/or scales, usually falling off with fruit; stamens usually (1-) 3, rarely more, usually distinct ; anthers basifixed ; pistils 1, 2-3(-4) -carpellate, fused, locule 1; style undivided or branches 2-3(-4) ; stigma sometimes papillate . Fruits achenes, usually trigonous or biconvex ; pericarps thin (except in Scleria) . Seeds 1; testa thin, free from pericarp; embryo basal; endosperm abundant. x = 5-ca. 100.

Genera ca. 100, species ca. 5000 (27 genera, 843 species in the flora ) : worldwide.

No consensus exists regarding the number of genera and the overall relationships of genera within Cyperaceae. The most recent account of the family (P. Goetghebeur 1998) recognized 104 genera distributed among 4 subfamilies and 14 tribes . That arrangement differs somewhat from that of J. Bruhl (1995) . With one minor exception the arrangement of the family here follows that of Goetghebeur.

The family is characterized by the occurrence of a number of unusual cytological features including: (1) chromosomes with diffuse centromeres , (2) post-reductional meiosis, and (3) pollen grains formed from tetrads in which 3 of the 4 microspores fail to develop. The first two features are found in at least some Juncaceae and are unique to the two families. Juncaceae also have pollen in tetrads, but in that family all four microspores produce pollen grains. Some species in some genera of Cyperaceae (particularly Eleocharis) possess chromosomes with localized centromeres (S. S. Bir et al. 1993) . The wide range of chromosome numbers found in Cyperaceae is largely because of agmatoploidy; polyploidy has been hypothesized for some genera, especially Eleocharis, although polyploidy has not been demonstrated unequivocally.

Because of morphologic similarities in vegetative and inflorescence characters, the family has commonly been associated with Poaceae. Cytological features discussed above clearly indicate that to be a superficial similarity . Data from rbcL studies also support the view that Cyperaceae and Poaceae are not closely related (M. R. Duvall et al. 1993b; G. M. Plunkett et al. 1995) ; they do support the concept of close relationship between Cyperaceae and Juncaceae.

For most families of flowering plants the phenological data given are flowering times. Because most Cyperaceae cannot be reliably identified when in flower, in this volume fruiting time is given for all species by season , sometimes qualified by early, mid, or late, or by months. The fruiting time has been interpreted broadly to include the period when the fruit is more or less fully formed but not yet ripe . The fruiting period provided covers the entire range of the taxon . Quite a difference between fruiting periods in different parts of the range of the species may well occur, especially for widespread species and species with extensive elevation range.

For a recent, comprehensive review of the economic importance of Cyperaceae, see D. A. Simpson and C. A. Inglis (2001) .[1]

Genus Schoenoplectus

Herbs, perennial or annual , cespitose or not, rhizomatous or not. Culms solitary or not, cylindric to strongly trigonous , smooth , glabrous , spongy with internal air cavities. Leaves basal, rarely 1(2) cauline; sheaths tubular ; ligules membranous, glabrous; blades well developed to rudimentary , cross section dorsiventrally flat to C-shaped or laterally compressed , soft, smooth or margins sometimes distally scabrous or spinulose . Inflorescences terminal , capitate to openly paniculate ; spikelets 1100+; involucral bracts 15, leaflike, proximal bract erect to spreading . Spikelets terete , 325 × 25 mm; scales deciduous, 8+, spirally arranged , each subtending flower, or proximal scale empty (sometimes called a bracteole), floral scales with apex entire or 2-fid, midrib usually prolonged into mucro or awn , smooth or abaxial surface scabrous, margins ciliate . Flowers bisexual (basal flowers pistillate in amphicarpic species) ; perianth of 06(8) bristles , straight or curved , spinulose, straplike, sometimes fringed with soft, blunt hairs , shorter than to somewhat exceeding achene; stamens 3; anthers 3 mm; styles linear , 23-fid, base not or scarcely enlarged, deciduous in fruit. Achenes biconvex to trigonous, with apical beak , faintly to prominently rugose or with transverse wavy ridges , 2.53.5 mm including 0.12 mm beak.

Species ca. 77: worldwide.

Schoenoplectus includes some difficult species complexes, each with different ranges outside of North America, that are discussed under the first species in each complex . The four sections recognized here were delineated by S. G. Smith and E. Hayasaka (2001). About ten species from eastern Asia and Africa have not yet been assigned to a section.

Schoenoplectus californicus and members of the S. lacustris and S. pungens complexes are often ecologically dominant in wetlands, where they provide valuable food and habitat for waterfowl and other animals. In North America their culms are used, mostly historically, for making mats, baskets, chair seats, houses, boats , and other objects. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals . Indicator boxes for weediness are marked here on the basis of the status listed under Scripus.[2]

Physical Description

Species Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

Rhizomes 3-10 mm diam. Culms cylindric , 0.5-3 m × 2-10 mm. Leaves 3-4, basal; sheath fronts membranous-translucent, often pinnate-fibrillose; blades 1-2, C-shaped to dorsiventrally flat in cross section , usually much shorter than sheath, distal blade 2-200 × 1-4 mm, margins often scabridulous . Inflorescences 2-4 times branched, branches to 15(-25) cm; proximal bract usually erect , thickly C-shaped to subterete, 1-8 cm, margins sometimes scabridulous. Spikelets 15-200, solitary or in clusters of 2-4(-7), commonly all solitary, 3-17 × 2.5-4 mm; scales uniformly dark to pale orange-brown, sometimes straw-colored, sometimes prominently lineolate-spotted, midrib often pale or green, ovate , 2-3.5 × 1.5-2 mm, sparsely (rarely densely) reddish or straw-colored, scabrous on awn and distal parts of midrib and sometimes flanks, margins ciliate , hairs contorted; flanks veinless, apex obtuse to rounded , notch 0.2-0.3 mm deep, awn straight or bent, 0.2-0.8 mm. Flowers: perianth bristles 6, brown, ± equaling achene, densely retrorsely spinulose ; anthers 2 mm; styles 2-fid, sometimes 3-fid near spikelet apex. Achenes dark gray-brown when ripe , plano-convex , obovoid , 1.5-2.8 × 1.2-1.7 mm; beak 0.2-0.4 mm. 2n = 42. Fruiting late spring-summer, spring-winter (south). [source]

Two yellow-striped forms of Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani are grown as ornamentals . [source]

Schoenoplectus validus, described from the Caribbean, and S. tabernaemontani, described from Europe, are here treated as one variable, cosmopolitan species without infraspecific taxa, pending further studies (J. Browning et al. 1995b; S. G. Smith 1995). Most North American plants have spikelets with reddish papillae or prickles on the scales, whereas some plants of coastal and boreal North America closely resemble most plants of northwestern Europe and southern Africa in their densely reddish prickly-papillose scales and are similar to the type of Scirpus glaucus J. E. Smith. [source]

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, S. acutus, S. heterochaetus, S. lacustris, and S. triqueter belong to the very difficult S. lacustris complex . The entire complex except S. triqueter was treated as the single species Scirpus lacustris (T. Koyama 1962b). Many Old World authors treat Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani as S. lacustris var. tabernaemontani or subsp. glaucus. [source]

Much of the local infraspecific variation in the Schoenoplectus lacustris complex is probably because of hybridization. Some studies support the recognition of separate species in this group (J. Browning et al. 1995b). Hybrids in North America include S. acutus × S. tabernaemontani, widespread and common, especially in the east; S. acutus × S. heterochaetus = S. ×oblongus (T. Koyama) Soják, widespread but uncommon; S. heterochaetus × S. tabernaemontani = S. ×steinmetzii (Fernald) S. G. Smith, eastern and most uncommon; S. tabernaemontani × S. triqueter = S. ×kuekenthalianus (Junge) Kent, lower Columbia River in Oregon and probably Washington; and S. acutus var. occidentalis × S. californicus, local in California. Except for its trigonous culms, S. triqueter is very similar to the S. lacustris complex and freely hybridizes with S. tabernaemontani, both in North America and Europe. [source]

Habit: Graminoid • Growth Form: Rhizomatous • Shape and Orientation: Erect

Flowers: Bloom Period: Late Spring • Flower Color: Red • Flower Conspicuous: No

Seeds: Seed Spread Rate: Slow • Seedling Vigor: Low • Fruit/Seed Abundance: Low • Fruit/Seed Color: Green • Fruit/Seed Conspicuous: No • Cold Stratification Required: No

Foliage: Foliage Color: Green • Foliage Porosity Summer: Dense • Foliage Porosity Winter: Porous • Foliage Texture: Coarse • Fall Conspicuous: No • Leaf Retention: No

Size/Age/Growth

Active Growth Period: Spring , Summer, Fall • Growth Rate: Rapid • After Harvest Regrowth Rate: Slow • Mature Height (feet): 9.0 • Size: 4-6' tall. • Vegetative Spread Rate: Rapid • Lifespan: Lifespan

Habitat

Fresh to brackish marshes, fens , bogs , lakes , stream banks and bars , pioneering in disturbed places, often emergent in water to 1 m ; 0-2400 m[3].

Typically found in the intertidal zone at the water's edge at a mean distance from sea level of 229 meters (751 feet).[4]

Biome: Coastal.

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial • Coppice Potential: No • Progagated by Bulbs: No • Propagated by Bare Root: Yes • Propagated by Container: Yes • Propagated by Corms: No • Propagated by Cuttings: No • Propagated by Seed: Yes • Propagated by Sod: No • Propagated by Sprigs: Yes • Propagated by Tubers: No • Fruit/Seed Period Begin: Summer • Fruit/Seed Period End: Summer • Fruit/Seed Persistence: No

Growth

Culture: Space 12-15" apart.

Soil: Adapted to Medium Textured: Adapted to Medium Textured Soils • Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: Yes • Anaerobic Tolerance: High • Salinity Tolerance: Low • CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium • Minimum pH: 5.4 • Maximum pH: 7.5 • Fertility Requirement: Low

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun . • Shade Tolerance: Intolerant

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: None • Minimum Precipitation: 18 • Maximum Precipitation: 55 • Moisture Use: High • Water Requirements: 0-6" water depth.

Temperature: Minimum Temperature (F): -38 • Minimum Frost Free Days: 80 • Cold Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

S. lacustris Linnaeus glaucus (Smith) Hartman • S. lacustris validus (Vahl) T. Koyama • S. lacustris var. tabernaemontani (C. C. Gmelin) Döll • S. validus var. creber Fernald • Schoenoplectus lacustris creber (Fern.) A. & D. Löve • Schoenoplectus lacustris tabernaemontani (K. C. Gmel.) A. & D. Lã¶ve • Schoenoplectus lacustris validus (Vahl) T. koyama • Schoenoplectus validus (Vahl) A. & D. Löve • Schoenoplectus validus creber (Fern.) A. & D. Löve • Schoenoplectus validus luxurians (Miq.) Soják • Scirpus lacustris creber (Fern.) T. Koyama • Scirpus lacustris glaucus (Reichenb.) Hartman • Scirpus lacustris tabernaemontani (K. C. Gmel.) Syme • Scirpus lacustris validus (Vahl) T. Koyama • Scirpus tabernaemontani C. C. Gmelin • Scirpus tabernaemontani K. C. Gmel. • Scirpus validus Vahl • Scirpus validus var. creber Fern.

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 21-Jun-2005

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Schoenoplectus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 40 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus:

S. acutus (Hardstem Bulrush) · S. acutus var. acutus (Hardstem Bulrush) · S. acutus var. occidentalis (Tule) · S. americanus (American Bulrush) · S. californicus (California Bulrush) · S. californicus var. spoliatus (California Bulrush) · S. californicus var. tereticulmis (California Bulrush) · S. carinatus (Oblong Bulrush) · S. contortus (Contorted Bulrush) · S. deltarum (Delta Bulrush) · S. erectus (Sharpscale Bulrush) · S. etuberculatus (Canby's Bulrush) · S. fluviatilis (River Bulrush) · S. glaucus (Tuberous Bulrush) · S. hallii (Hall's Bulrush) · S. heterochaetus (Pale Great Bulrush) · S. juncoides (Kaluha) · S. lacustris (Lakeshore Bulrush) · S. lacustris tabernaemontani 'Albescens' (Variegated Bulrush) · S. lacustris tabernaemontani 'Zebrinus' (Zebra Rush) · S. maritimus (Cosmopolitan Bulrush) · S. mucronatus (Bog Bulrush) · S. mucronatus f. hosoiri (Rough-Seed Bulrush) · S. novae-angliae (New England Bulrush) · S. pungens (Common Threesquare) · S. pungens var. badius (Common Threesquare) · S. pungens var. longebracteatus (Common Threesquare Bulrush) · S. pungens var. longispicatus (Common Threesquare) · S. pungens var. polyphyllus (Common Threesquare Bulrush) · S. pungens var. pungens (Common Threesquare) · S. purshianus (Weakstalk Bulrush) · S. robustus (Sturdy Bulrush) · S. saximontanus (Rocky Mountain Bulrush) · S. smithii (Smith's Bulrush) · S. subterminalis (Swaying Bulrush) · S. tabernaemontani (Bullrush) · S. torreyi (Torrey's Bulrush) · S. triqueter (Streambank Bulrush) · S. triqueter f. hoppei (Triangular Club-Rush) · S. x carinatus (Oblong Bulrush)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 28, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Peter W. Ball, A. A. Reznicek, David F. Murray "Cyperaceae". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 3, 4, 192, 243, 252. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. S. Galen Smith "Schoenoplectus". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 6, 7, 8, 28, 38, 44, 48, 168. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. "Schoenoplectus". in Flora of North America Vol. 23 Page 45, 47, 48, 50. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  4. Standard Deviation = 393.620 based on 107,727 observations. Terrestrial altitude and ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/15/2012