''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'' w ...
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.
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 caldw ...
''; 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 are as follows:
*''Blysmus compressus'' (L.) Panz. ex Link
*''Blysmus mon ...
'', ''
Isolepis
''Isolepis'' is a cosmopolitan genus of sedge containing around 70 species. ''Isolepis'' is found in cool tropical and temperate climates often in Africa and Australasia.
''Isolepis'' was first described by prolific botanist Robert Brown in 181 ...
'', '' 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 ext ...
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 ...
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
A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics ...
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
Trichophorum cespitosum
''Trichophorum cespitosum'', commonly known as deergrass or tufted bulrush, is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family. It was originally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as ''Scirpus cespitosus'', but was trans ...
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 ...
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. fluviatilis'' an ...
'' - river bulrush
*''
Scirpus georgianus
''Scirpus georgianus'', or Georgia bulrush, is a flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek word ...
'' Georgia bulrush
*''
Scirpus grossus
''Actinoscirpus'' is a monospecific genus in the family Cyperaceae which contains only the species ''Actinoscirpus grossus'', the greater club rush. It is found across East and South Asia and is known in China as 大藨草 (da biao cao), ''rumpu ...
'' Greater club-rush, Giant bulrush
*''
Scirpus hattorianus
''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 ...
'' - mosquito bulrush
*''
Scirpus lineatus
''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 ...
'' drooping bulrush
*''
Scirpus longii
''Scirpus longii'' is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, 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 microcarpus
''Scirpus microcarpus'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known by the common names panicled bulrush, smallfruit bulrush, and barberpole bulrush. It is native to North America, where it can be found throughout the northern and ...
'' small-fruit bulrush
*''
Scirpus mucronatus
''Schoenoplectiella mucronata'' is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family known by the common names bog bulrush, rough-seed bulrush, and ricefield bulrush. It is native to Eurasia, Africa and Australia. It grows in moist ...
''
*''
Scirpus nevadensis
''Amphiscirpus'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the sedge family containing the single species ''Amphiscirpus nevadensis'', which is known by the common name Nevada bulrush.
This plant was formerly included in genus ''Scirpus''.Goe ...
'' Nevada bulrush
*''
Scirpus olneyi
''Schoenoplectus americanus'' (Synonym (taxonomy), syn. ''Scirpus americanus'') is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family known by the common names chairmaker's bulrush and Olney's three-square bulrush. It is native to the A ...
Scirpus pacificus
''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 ...
'' Pacific Coast bulrush
*''
Scirpus pallidus
''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 ...
'' 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
''Scirpus pendulus'' is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family known by the common names pendulous bulrush, rufous bulrush, and nodding bulrush. It is native to North America, where it can be found throughout the eastern Uni ...
'' pendulous bulrush
*''
Scirpus polyphyllus
''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 ...
'' leafy bulrush
*''
Scirpus pumilus
''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.
Tax ...
'' dwarf deergrass
*''
Scirpus pungens
''Schoenoplectus pungens'' is a species of flowering plant in the sedge family known as common threesquare, common three-square bulrush and sharp club-rush. It is a herbaceous emergent plant that is widespread across much of North and South Am ...
'' sharp club-rush
*''
Scirpus radicans
''Scirpus radicans'' is a species of flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('containe ...
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
''Scirpus sylvaticus'', the wood clubrush, is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family.
''Scirpus sylvaticus'' can reach 1 m, and has triangular stems.
''S. sylvaticus'' widespread in Eurasia, is very common in the European ...
'' 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
''Bolboschoenus maritimus'' is a species of flowering plant from family Cyperaceae. Common names for this species include sea clubrush, cosmopolitan bulrush, alkali bulrush, saltmarsh bulrush, and bayonet grass. It is found in seaside wetland ha ...
'' sea club-rush
*''
Isolepis cernua
''Isolepis cernua'' (basionym ''Scirpus cernuus'') is a species of flowering plant in the Cyperaceae, sedge family known by the common names low bulrush, slender club-rush, tufted clubrush, and fiberoptic grass. It is widespread, being native to ...
'' 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 fo ...
Schoenoplectus hudsonianus
''Schoenoplectus'' (club-rush ld World species bulrush or tule ew World species is a genus of plants in the Cyperaceae, sedges with a cosmopolitan distribution. Note that the name bulrush is also applied to species in the unrelated genus ...
Several hundred fossil 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 y ...
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 ei ...
of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark. 35 fossil 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 y ...
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, and ...
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 hori ...
are collected in the autumn and winter and dried in the sun before use.
* 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