Schoenoplectus heterochaetus

Slender bulrush

Family: Cyperaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1

Slender bulrush is a native perennial herb found in the high Cascade Range in fresh marshes and lakes, often emergent, at elevations below 1,600 meters. Flowering in August, this plant produces small flowers in clusters of spikelets 5 to 15 millimeters long. Growing 1.5 to 2.5 meters tall with a long rhizome, it has cylindrical stems 4 to 8 millimeters in diameter. Its leaves are thin, one to two blades per plant, up to 200 millimeters long and about 5 millimeters wide, with C-shaped cross-sections that split into delicate fibers at the sheath. The fruit is small, three-sided, smooth, and approximately 1.8 to 2.2 millimeters long.

Habitat: Fresh marshes, lakes, often emergent

Bloom period: Aug

Elevation: < 1600 m

Bioregions: CaRH

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.