''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family

Cyperaceae The Cyperaceae are a family of graminoid (grass-like), monocotyledonous flowering plants known as sedges. The family is large, with some 5,500 known species described in about 90 genera, the largest being the "true sedges" genus '' Carex'' ...

many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also

bulrush Bulrush is a vernacular name for several large wetland grass-like plants *Sedge family (Cyperaceae): **''Cyperus'' **'' Scirpus'' **''Blysmus'' **''Bolboschoenus'' **'' Scirpoides'' **'' Isolepis'' **'' Schoenoplectus'' **'' Trichophorum'' * T ...

for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of the genus is complex, and under review by botanists. Recent studies by

taxonomists In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific study of naming, defining ( circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are given ...

of the Cyperaceae have resulted in the creation of several new genera, including the genera '' Schoenoplectus'' and ''

Bolboschoenus ''Bolboschoenus'' is a genus of plants in the sedge family, of nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Epipaleolithic and Neolithic peoples used ground root tubers of these plants to make the first breads. ; Accepted species * '' Bolboschoenus cald ...

''; others (including ''

Blysmus ''Blysmus'' is a genus of sedges of the family Cyperaceae, found in temperate regions across the Northern Hemisphere. Species Species currently accepted by The Plant List The Plant List was a list of botanical names of species of plants crea ...

'', '' Isolepis'', '' Nomochloa'', and '' Scirpoides'') have also been used. At one point this genus held almost 300 species, but many of the species once assigned to it have now been reassigned, and it now holds an estimated 120 species.

Description

''Scirpus'' are rhizomatous perennial herbs, with 3-angled stems and flat grass-like leaves. The flowers are in clusters of small spikelets, often brown or greenish brown. Some species (e.g. ''S. lacustris'') can reach a height of 3 m, while ''S. sylvaticus'' is about 1.2 m and others, such as ''S. supinus'', are much smaller, only reaching 20–30 cm tall.

Distribution

The genus has a nearly

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The extr ...

, found on every continent except

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

and

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest cont ...

Ecology

Many species are common in

wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The p ...

and can produce dense stands of vegetation, along rivers, in coastal deltas and in ponds and potholes. Although flooding is the most important factor affecting its distribution, drought, ice scour, grazing, fire and salinity also affect its abundance. It can survive unfavourable conditions like prolonged flooding, or drought, as buried seeds ''Scirpus'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described speci ...

species, including ''

Chedra microstigma ''Chedra microstigma'' is a tiny moth of the family Batrachedridae described in 1907. It has only been found on Oahu. It has been found feeding on sedges, plants belonging to the Cyperaceae family, and its larvae host at least three species of pa ...

'' and '' Scirpophaga nivella''.

Selected species

:''(This list is incomplete, and may include some species now assigned to other genera.)'' *''

Scirpus ancistrochaetus ''Scirpus ancistrochaetus'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names barbedbristle bulrush and northeastern bulrush. It is native to the northeastern United States from New Hampshire south to Virginia. I ...

'' northeastern bulrush *''

Scirpus atrocinctus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' black-girdle bulrush *''

Scirpus atrovirens ''Scirpus atrovirens'', known as dark-green bulrush, is a perennial sedge native to wetlands of eastern Canada and the United States. It is sometimes called dark green bulsedge, black bulrush, or green bulrush. It was first formally named by Ca ...

'' woolgrass bulrush *''

Scirpus bicolor ''Scirpus bicolor'' is a species of plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. The plant is endemic to Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale Island, Inaccessible Island and Gough Island. Its natural habitats are subantarctic forests, subantarctic shrubland, ...

'' *''

Scirpus campestris ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' salt marsh bulrush *'' Scirpus cespitosus'' deergrass, synonymous with

Trichophorum cespitosum ''Trichophorum cespitosum'', commonly known as deergrass or tufted bulrush, is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family. It was originally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as ''Scirpus cespitosus'', bu ...

*''

Scirpus congdonii ''Scirpus congdonii'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common name Congdon's bulrush after noted Californian botanist J.W. Congdon. It is native to the mountains and plateaus of far northern California and adjace ...

'' Congdon's bulrush *''

Scirpus cyperinus ''Scirpus cyperinus'', commonly known as woolgrass, is an emergent wetland herb that is native to the eastern United States and eastern Canada. Other common names include cottongrass bulrush Scirpus diffusus ''Scirpus diffusus'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common name umbrella bulrush. It is endemic to California, where it can be found in several of the high mountain ranges from the Klamath Mountains to the Sier ...

'' *''

Scirpus divaricatus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' spreading bulrush *''

Scirpus expansus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' Woodland beakrush *''

Scirpus flaccidifolius ''Scirpus flaccidifolius'', the reclining bulrush, is an uncommon plant species endemic to a small region in Virginia and North Carolina. It is reported from only six populations in three counties in Virginia ( Greensville, Sussex and Southampto ...

'' reclining bulrush *''

Scirpus fluitans ''Isolepis fluitans'' (syn. ''Scirpus fluitans''), the floating scirpus, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family. It is native to Africa, Australasia, Europe, and the Pacific islands. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, ...

'' floating club-rush *''

Scirpus fluviatilis ''Bolboschoenus fluviatilis'', the river bulrush, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family, Cyperaceae. Its range includes Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Canada, the United States, and northeastern Mexico. ''B. fluviatili ...

'' - river bulrush *'' Scirpus georgianus'' Georgia bulrush *'' Scirpus grossus'' Greater club-rush, Giant bulrush *'' Scirpus hattorianus'' - mosquito bulrush *'' Scirpus lineatus'' drooping bulrush *''

Scirpus longii ''Scirpus longii'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common name Long's bulrush. It is native to eastern North America, where it is limited to the Atlantic coastal plain.Scirpus mariqueter ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' *'' Scirpus microcarpus'' small-fruit bulrush *'' Scirpus mucronatus'' *'' Scirpus nevadensis'' Nevada bulrush *'' Scirpus olneyi'' Olney bulrush, synonymous with '' Schoenoplectus americanus'' *'' Scirpus pacificus'' Pacific Coast bulrush *'' Scirpus pallidus'' pale bulrush *''

Scirpus paludosus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' salt marsh bulrush *''

Scirpus pedicellatus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' stalked bulrush *'' Scirpus pendulus'' pendulous bulrush *'' Scirpus polyphyllus'' leafy bulrush *'' Scirpus pumilus'' dwarf deergrass *'' Scirpus pungens'' sharp club-rush *'' Scirpus radicans'' *'' Scirpus robustus'' salt marsh bulrush *''

Scirpus supinus ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' dwarf club-rush *'' Scirpus sylvaticus'' wood club-rush *''

Scirpus triqueter ''Scirpus'' is a genus of grass-like species in the sedge family Cyperaceae many with the common names club-rush, wood club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plant genera so-named). They mostly inhabit wetlands and damp locations. Taxo ...

'' triangular club-rush ;Selected species in a broader view of the genus *'' Bolboschoenus maritimus'' sea club-rush *'' Isolepis cernua'' slender club-rush *''

Isolepis setacea ''Isolepis setacea'' (syn. ''Scirpus setaceus'') is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names bristle club-rush and bristleleaf bulrush. It is native to Eurasia and Africa, and possibly Australasia. It can be fou ...

'' bristle club-rush *'' Schoenoplectus acutus'' tule *'' Schoenoplectus hudsonianus'' alpine deergrass *'' Schoenoplectus lacustris'' common club-rush *'' Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani'' *'' Scirpoides holoschoenus'' round-headed club-rush

Fossil record

Several hundred

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

fruits of ''Scirpus ragozinii'' have been described from

middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma (million ...

strata In geology and related fields, a stratum ( : strata) is a layer of rock or sediment characterized by certain lithologic properties or attributes that distinguish it from adjacent layers from which it is separated by visible surfaces known as e ...

of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central

Jutland Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. 35

fruits of the extant ''Scirpus sylvaticus'' have been extracted from borehole samples of the

Middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene Epoch made up of two stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma to 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma (million ...

fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians,

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

.Łańcucka-Środoniowa M.: Macroscopic plant remains from the freshwater Miocene of the Nowy Sącz Basin (West Carpathians, Poland) zczątki makroskopowe roślin z miocenu słodkowodnego Kotliny Sądeckiej (Karpaty Zachodnie, Polska) Acta Palaeobotanica 1979 20 (1): 3-117.

Uses

''Scirpus'' species are often planted to inhibit

soil erosion Soil erosion is the denudation or wearing away of the upper layer of soil. It is a form of soil degradation. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice (glaciers), snow, air (wind), plants, a ...

and provide habitat for other wildlife. They are also used in some herbal remedies; the plant's

rhizomes In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...

are collected in the autumn and winter and dried in the sun before use.

References

External links

Genus ''Scirpus''

* ttp://www.northernbushcraft.com/plants/bulrush/notes.htm Edibility of Scirpus Edible parts and identification of ''Scirpus''

Sources

* Muntz, Philip A. ''A California Flora''. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1973, copyright 1959 * Muntz, Philip A. ''A California Flora: Supplement’’. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1976 (Scirpus lacutris, validus, glaucus, p. 183)) {{Taxonbar, from=Q159220 Cyperaceae genera