Scientific Name
Scirpus microcarpus J. Presl & C. Presl (Synonyms: Scirpus rubrotinctus)
Common Name(s)
Panicled bulrush
Tribe / Family Name
Cyperaceae
Flowering Period
June to September
Symbol
SCMI2
Description
Panicled bulrush is a native cool-season perennial rhizomatous grass-like plant. Culms range from 60–150 cm in height and has an erect growth habit with weakly triangular (3-sided) stems that arise singly or few together. Inflorescence is a terminal umbelliform cyme that is rather loose and spreading with 2- to many sessile spikelets in glomerules (usually 4–6 mm long) on the ends of pedicels; inflorescences also subtended by several unequal, foliaceous, involucral bracts that can grow up to 25 cm long. Scales are up to 1.5 mm long, acute to obtuse, mucronulate, and hyaline except the blackish sides and green midsripe. Flowers contain 4–6 white to tan slender bristles that slightly surpass the achene body, but not the scales. Stigmas 2. Fruits are achenes (not enclosed in a sac-like bract except for the tip where the stigma may be exerted), lenticular, and light green to pale tan. Leaves can be up to several centimeters long and up to 15 mm wide, flat, and ascending; upper blades usually exceeding the inflorescences. Sheaths are tinted with reddish-purple.
General Info
Panicled bulrush can be found along roadsides, streambanks, and irrigation ditches, in wet meadows, marshes, beaver ponds, springs, foothills, valleys, plains, and montane sites.
Similar Species
Panicled bulrush is very distinctive and not easily confused with other grass-like species. However, its appearance can be similar to other bulrush (Scirpus) species.
Picture of habitat.
Picture of growth habit.
Close-up picture of compound, terminal cyme inflorescence.
Illustration of panicled bulrush. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. <i>An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols</i>. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 335.