Kaluh or Saltmarsh bulrushCyperaceae (Sedge family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (All the main islands except Lnai and Kahoolawe)Oahu (Cultivated)Flowering stage.This indigenous sedge is not known to be used by early settlers in the Hawaiian Islands. However, in other parts of the world the seeds were used as a food source and the leaves were used in making baskets, mats, sandals, and clothing.EtymologyBolboschoenus is from the Greek bolbos, swelling or bulb, and schoinos, rush in reference to the ligneous (woody) tubers at the culm (aerial part of the plant) bases.The specific epithet martinus, growing by the sea, is in reference to its brackish-freshwater habitat.
Known also as Salt marsh bulrush, Seacoast bulrush, Cosmopolitan bulrush, Bayonet grass (although it is not a grass species), and others.Plants here were mostly around three to four feet tall (although they can be somewhat taller, up to 1.5 m) and were growing in a small but fairly dense cluster, which is typical for this perennial, rhizotamous native species. Spikelets are mainly sessile. Styles of the western hemisphere subspecies are bifid (also referred to as 2-fid) which is difficult to see here but I was able to confirm that at higher magnification. Stems are triangular (i.e. triquetrous) and the involucral bracts greatly exceed the inflorescence.The species has a worldwide distribution with two different subspecies currently recognized. The taxonomy of this species is somewhat complex. The subspecies in the western hemisphere with the 2-fid styles is Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. paludosus (syn. Bolboschoenus maritimus var. paludosus, Scirpus maritimus var. paludosus).A synonym for the species would also include Schoenoplectus maritimus but that name would not apply to the western hemisphere form since it was never combined with the subspecies epithet. And, other "Scirpus" species which are now in Schoenoplectus including S. acutus and S. americanus and S. pungens remain there. But not Alkali bulrush which has been moved into own separate genus, i.e. BolboschoenusJune 29, 2014, elev. approx. 4,340 ft., Salt Lake County regional park complex, growing with Typha latifolia, Eleocharis palustris, Fremont's cottonwood hybrids, and the very invasive Solanum dulcamara. Less than 50 plants, wet meadow habitat opened up by Russian Olive removal, but with many highly undesirable Russian Olive trees remaining which are slated for further removal activities.
