Flora of the Southeastern United States

Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhlenberg ex Bigelow) Á. Löve & D. Löve var. acutus. Common name: Hardstem Bulrush, Great Bulrush. Phenology: Jun-early Aug; Aug-Oct. Habitat: Freshwater tidal marshes, calcareous spring marshes. Distribution: The species is widespread in temperate North America; also ne. Asia.

ID notes: Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus is very robust, up to 3 m tall, the round stems arising from thick horizontal rhizomes. Near the top of the stem is an inflorescence with generally erect to arching branches. From the base of the inflorescence grows a bract which appears as if it is a continuation of the stem. It is very similar to S. tabernaemontani, but female scale awns are longer (0.5-2 mm vs. 0.2-0.8 mm) and usually bent (vs. usually straight in that species). The two species are known to hybridize and so some specimens may not key cleanly. The species is noted for its solid (hard) culms (stems), as the common name implies, as opposed to soft and easily compressed stems in some other similar species.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, Can, FNA23, K4, NE, NS, NY, POWO, Va, Smith (1995); = n/a — Tat; = Scirpus acutus Muhl. ex Willd. — C, F, G, GrPl, GW1, RAB, Tx, W, WV; < Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl. ex Bigelow) Á.Löve & D.Löve — ETx1, Il, Mi, Mo1, NcTx, Pa; ? Schoenoplectus lacustris (L.) Palla ssp. glaucus (Sm.) Hartm. Basionym: Scirpus acutus Muhl. ex Willd. 1814

Links to other floras: = Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus - FNA23

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL (name change)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL (name change)
• Great Plains: OBL (name change)
• Midwest: OBL (name change)
• Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (name change)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9