BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Scirpus subterminalis | Water Bulrush 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Water bulrush is a native, cool-season, rhizomatous, aquatic perennial,
which grows 8 to 30 inches (20-80 cm) long.  The slender, weak stems
float on the water surface, rather than emerging above it.  There is a
solitary spike with a nearly erect, leaflike bract 0.5 to 2.5 inches
(1-6 cm) long.  The three-sided achene is 2 to 4 mm long [4].  Water
bulrush is most commonly found in the vegetative state without spikelets
[8,11].  The terrestrial form has somewhat thicker culms than the
aquatic form [16].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Helophyte
   Geophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Bulrush reproduces vegetatively by rhizomes and sexually through seed
production [2].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Water bulrush grows mostly submerged (except for the tip of the fertile
culm) in rivers, ponds, lakes, streams, and standing water up to 3 or 4
feet (0.91-1.2 m) deep at low elevations in valleys, foothills, and
montane zones [6,12,14].  It grows near inflow and outflow streams.  It
is tolerant of acidic lakes and is characteristic of mucky substrates in
water up to 6 feet (2 m) deep [10].  Water bulrush has been reported
at 2,900 to 5,900 feet (880-1,800 m) in Montana [15] and 6,800 feet
(2,073 m) in Wyoming [2].  It is associated with pondweed (Potomogeton
spp.), cowlily (Nuphar spp.), bladderwort (Utricularia spp.), sphagnum
moss (Sphagnum spp.), and Eriocaulon spp. [10].  The terrestrial form
is to be expected when water levels are abnormally low [16].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Fruit of water bulrush matures in late July and August in the Northwest
[4] and from June to September in the Northeast [12].

Related categories for Species: Scirpus subterminalis | Water Bulrush