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The Alkali (Scirpus Maritimus L.) and Saltmarsh (S. Robustus Pursh) Bulrushes: A Literature Review

Economics

Scirpus maritimus and S. robustus have economic values other than those related to fisheries, wildlife, and livestock production. The belowground rhizome systems can stabilize soft, bottom substrates and thus reduce water turbidity (Gillham 1957; Kadlec and Wentz 1974). Stands of S. maritimus successfully filter the fecal pathogen Escherichia coli from sewage effluent (Seidel 1971). Scirpus maritimus may remove phenols from industrial waste and can be used to make paper (Zafar 1976). Scirpus robustus pioneers and becomes a prominent plant in constructed wastewater treatment ponds (Gearheart et al. 1984) but probably is less able to take up heavy metals than other common marsh plants (Lee et al. 1976). Scirpus robustus is sometimes used in aquatic plant nurseries to reduce temperatures of industrial wastewater (Ailstock 1989) and to treat urban runoff (Meiorin 1989).

The two bulrushes may have yet undiscovered beneficial uses. Some stilbenes extracted from S. maritimus increase the life span of cancerous mice, inhibit formation of potato (Solanum tuberosum) galls, reduce activity of brine shrimp (Artemia salina), decrease feeding activity of fall army worms (Spodoptera frugiperda), and inhibit growth of duckweed (Lemna minor; Powell et al. 1987). The root (presumably corm) of this bulrush is used in China as an astringent and diuretic (Chopra et al. 1956, cited in Powell et al. 1987). The economic impact of the two bulrushes can also be negative. Scirpus maritimus or closely-related species are noxious weeds in rice fields in at least 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific (Nakagawa et al. 1973; Kim and De Datta 1974; Visperas and Vergara 1976a; Podlejski 1982; Bernasor and De Datta 1986; Powell et al. 1987). In these fields, S. maritimus may compose nearly 30% of the dry weight of weeds (Janiya and Moody 1984) and reduce rice yields by 60-100% (Ampong-Nyarko and De Datta 1991). Scirpus maritimus also reduces flow rates of agricultural drainwater in ditches (Batten 1967). Scirpus robustus or closely-related speciers are pests in California rice fields (George 1980).

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