Rufous Bulrush

Prior to 1966, the name Scirpus lineatus was incorrectly used for S. pendulus (A. E. Schuyler 1966). A nineteenth century Buckley collection from “Valley of the Lower Rio Grande,” may reflect an introduced population that has not persisted.

Plants cespitose; rhizomes short, stout. Culms: fertile ones upright or nearly so; nodes without axillary bulblets. Leaves 5–7 per culm; sheaths of proximal leaves whitish; proximal sheaths and blades with septa few, inconspicuous; blades 15–40 cm × 4–8(–12) mm. Inflorescences terminal only or sometimes also with 1(–2) lateral inflorescences from distal leaf axils; rays ascending or weakly divergent, rays and pedicels scabrous near nodes, otherwise smooth, rays without axillary bulblets; bases of involucral bracts green or speckled with red-brown, not glutinous. Spikelets in open cymes, central spikelet of each cyme sessile, others long-pedicellate, spikelets ovoid to lance-ovoid or subcylindric, 5–10(–12) × 2–3 mm; scales brown to red-brown with green midribs, ovate, 2 mm, apex mucronate, mucro 0.1–0.3 mm. Flowers: perianth bristles persistent or brittle and breaking off near base, 6, slender, strongly contorted, much longer than achene and often projecting far beyond it despite being strongly contorted, smooth, enclosed within scales or scarcely projecting beyond them; styles 3-fid. Achenes pale to medium brown, elliptic in outline, plano-convex or plumply trigonous, 1–1.2 × 0.6–0.8 mm. 2n = 40.

N.B., Ont., Que.; Ala., Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.; Mexico (Coahuila); introduced, Australia.

Fruiting late spring–early summer (Jun–Jul).

Marshes, moist meadows, ditches, often associated with calcareous substrates; 0–600m.

Scirpus pendulus is a species of flowering plant in the 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 United States and Canada, through the American midwest, some areas of the western United States, and into Mexico. It is also known as an introduced species in Australia. It grows in many types of moist and wet habitat, including disturbed areas such as ditches, and sometimes in drier areas. It is a perennial herb growing from a short, thick rhizome system. The erect, three-angled stems grow singly or in tufts and clumps, easily reaching one meter tall. Sheathing leaves occur at the stem bases as well as higher up the stems, the blades reaching up to 40 centimeters. The inflorescence is a panicle of many clusters of spikelets which hang on long, thin branches, often nodding or drooping, especially as the fruit develops.