FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
This rush has soft cylindrical spongy stems and widely spreading, drooping clusters of seeds, one per stem.
Synonym(s): Schoenoplectus lacustris, Schoenoplectus validus, Scirpus lacustris, Scirpus tabernaemontani, Scirpus validus
Description: Very tall, erect perennial, to 3 m, predominantly flowering stems; forms dense colonies.
Leaves: Leaves nonexistent or minimal sheaths to 10 cm long. Plant mostly long grayish-green stems with single branching seedhead at the top.
Flowers/Fruit: Loose-branching umbel, widely spreading and somewhat drooping, just below stem tip. Chestnut-brown mature individual spikelets in irregular clusters, on stems of varying lengths. Each spikelet compact, with overlapping scales. Flowers and fruits June to September.
Habit and Range: Usually found in deeper standing water, in sunny fresh and brackish marshes, muddy shores, floodplain pools, and interdune swales. Found statewide.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (softstem bulrush) is similar to Scirpus cyperinus (woolgrass bulrush), but individual budlike spikelets of S. tabernaemontani are not as large and hairy as in S. cyperinus. S. tabernaemontani also has no noticeable leaves.
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