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Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Scirpus atrovirens

Scirpus atrovirens Willd.

Green Bulrush, Dark Green Bulrush

Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: SCAT2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A sedge with stems to 5 ft. Leaves are grass-like but broad. The terminal inflorescence contains many spikelets that are crowded into dense, nearly spherical heads on rays that angle out in different directions.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green
Fruit: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Brown
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CT , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV
Canada: BC , NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: S. Que. to Sask. & ID, s. to GA, TN & LA
Native Habitat: Meadows; bogs; lake borders

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Wet soils.
Conditions Comments: Short-lived. Bulrush forms a buffer against wind and wave action, thus permitting other aquatic plants to grow in an otherwise unfavorable environment.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Provides important food and cover for waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds and muskrats.
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	OBL				OBL	OBL		OBL	OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Scirpus atrovirens in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Scirpus atrovirens in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Scirpus atrovirens

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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