Schoenoplectus pungens |
Schoenoplectus smithii |
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common three-square, common three-square bulrush, western bulrush |
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Rhizomes | often vertical, 1–6 mm thick. |
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Culms | sharply trigonous; sides convex to concave proximally, deeply concave to flat distally, 10–200 cm × 1–6 mm. |
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Leaf blades | proximally V-shaped, distally trigonous to asymmetrically laterally flattened in cross section; distal blade (1)2–5 times as long as sheath, 50–750 × 2–9 mm. |
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Inflorescences | proximal bract usually erect, resembling leaf blade but trigonous proximally; (1)3–20 cm. |
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Spikes | 1–5(10), sessile, 5–23 × 3–5(7) mm; floral scales bright (to very dark) orange-, red-brown, or purplish brown to straw-colored, often with prominent linear dots; midrib mostly paler; ovate, 3.5–6 × 2–3 mm; smooth or awn sparsely spinulose; margins deciduously ciliolate; apex acute (to obtuse); notch (0.3)0.5–1 mm deep; awn mostly irregularly bent, 0.5–1.5(2.5) mm. |
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Flowers | perianth members 4–8, sometimes fewer; bristle-like; equal or unequal; all equaling achene body to all rudimentary, retrorsely spinulose, brown; stigmas 2–3. |
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Achenes | biconvex to compressed bluntly trigonous; (2)2.5–3.5 × 1.3–2.3 mm; beak 0.1–0.5 mm. |
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2n | =74, 78. |
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Schoenoplectus pungens |
Schoenoplectus smithii |
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Distribution | ||
Discussion | Freshwater to brackish marshes, lake shores, and fens, often emergent in shallow water. 0–2000 m. BR, BW, Col, CR, ECas, Est, Lava, Owy, Sisk. CA, ID, NV, WA; north to AK, throughout US and southern Canada, south to Mexico; South America; Australia, Europe, New Zealand. Native. Schoenoplectus pungens and S. americanus share the oxymoronic and yet oddly descriptive common name “Three-square.” Their culms are triangular with prominent angles and the inflorescences are sessile. Schoenoplectus pungens shows considerable variation and has been divided into controversially delimited varieties. The group needs more research. |
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Source | Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 251 Barbara Wilson, Richard Brainerd, Nick Otting |
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Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | Schoenoplectus pungens var. badius, Schoenoplectus pungens var. longispicatus, Scirpus americanus, Scirpus americanus var. monophyllos, Scirpus pungens, Scirpus pungens var. longispicatus | |
Web links |
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