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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

Saltmarsh Bulrush
Scirpus maritimus L.

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Sedge (Cyperaceae)
Flowering: June-September
Field Marks: This bulrush is distinguished by its stout growth form and its large spikelets densely crowded in an usually sessile cluster at the tip of the stem.
Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, around ponds, particularly in alkaline habitats.
Habit: Stout perennial with rhizomes and tubers.
Stems: Upright, triangular, usually unbranched, up to 5 feet tall, without hairs.
Leaves: Alternate, elongated, flat, up to 1/2 inch wide, without hairs.
Flowers: Several crowded into spikelets, usually the sessile spikelets densely clustered at the tip of the stem; spikelets rounded at the tip, up to 1 inch long, up to 1/2 inch thick, subtended by 2-4 leaf-like bracts of different lengths; scale
Sepals: 0.
Petals: 0.
Stamens: 3.
Pistils: Ovary superior; styles 2.
Fruits: Achenes lenticular, up to 1/6 inch long, with a minute point at the tip and with a few short bristles at the base.
Notes: The large achenes are eaten by waterfowl.

Previous Species -- Tufted Bulrush (Scirpus cespitosus)
Return to Species List -- Group 3
Next Species -- Small-fruit Bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus)

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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:24:49 EST
Menlo Park, CA [caww55]