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Scirpus
Scirpus atrovirens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Poales Family: Cyperaceae Genus: Scirpus L.
Species
About 120; see text

The plant genus Scirpus consists of a large number of aquatic, grass-like species in the family Cyperaceae (the sedges), many with the common names club-rush or bulrush (see also bulrush for other plants so-named). Other common names are deergrass, grassweed and tule.

The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, and grows in wetlands and moist soil. Some species specialize in saline, marshy, environments such as intertidal mud-flats; others prefer ponds or lake-sides and river-beds. They have grass-like leaves, and clusters of small spikelets, often brown in colour. Some species (e.g. S. lacustris) can reach a height of 3 m, while others (e.g. S. supinus) are much smaller, only reaching 20-30 cm tall.

Scirpus species are often planted to inhibit soil erosion and provide habitat for other wildlife. They are also used in some herbal remedies; the plant's rhizomes are collected in the autumn and winter and dried in the sun before use.

The taxonomy of the genus is complex, and under discussion by botanists. Recent studies by taxonomists of the Cyperaceae have resulted in the creation of several new genera, including the genera Schoenoplectus and Bolboschoenus; others (including Blysmus, Isolepis, Nomochloa, and Scirpoides) have also been used. At one point this genus held almost 300 species, but many of the species once assigned to this genus have now been re-assigned, and it now holds an estimated 120 species.

Scirpus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Batrachedra cuniculata.

Selected species

(This list is incomplete, and may include some species now assigned to other genera.)

• Scirpus ancistrochaetus Northeastern Bulrush
• Scirpus atrocinctus Black-girdle Bulrush
• Scirpus atrovirens Woolgrass Bulrush
• Scirpus campestris Salt Marsh Bulrush
• Scirpus cespitosus Deergrass
• Scirpus californicus
• Scirpus congdonii Congdon's Bulrush
• Scirpus cyperinus Cottongrass Bulrush
• Scirpus diffusus
• Scirpus divaricatus Spreading Bulrush
• Scirpus expansus Woodland Beakrush
• Scirpus flaccidifolius Reclining Bulrush
• Scirpus fluitans Floating Club-rush
• Scirpus georgianus Georgia Bulrush
• Scirpus hattorianus Bulrush
• Scirpus lineatus Drooping Bulrush
• Scirpus longii Long's Bulrush
• Scirpus mariqueter
• Scirpus microcarpus Small-fruit Bulrush
• Scirpus mucronatus
• Scirpus nevadensis Nevada Bulrush
• Scirpus olneyi Olney Bulrush
• Scirpus pacificus Pacific Coast Bulrush
• Scirpus pallidus Pale Bulrush
• Scirpus paludosus Salt Marsh Bulrush
• Scirpus pedicellatus Stalked Bulrush
• Scirpus pendulus Pendulous Bulrush
• Scirpus polyphyllus Leafy Bulrush
• Scirpus pumilus Dwarf Deergrass
• Scirpus pungens Sharp Club-rush
• Scirpus radicans
• Scirpus robustus Salt Marsh Bulrush
• Scirpus supinus Dwarf Club-rush
• Scirpus sylvaticus Wood Club-rush
• Scirpus tabernaemontani
• Scirpus triqueter Triangular Club-rush

Selected species in a broader view of the genus

• Scirpus cernuus (syn. Isolepis cernua) Slender Club-rush
• Scirpus holoschoenus (syn. Scirpoides holoschoenus) Round-headed Club-rush
• Scirpus hudsonianus (syn. Schoenoplectus hudsonianus) Alpine Deergrass
• Scirpus acutus (syn. Schoenoplectus acutus), Tule
• Scirpus lacustris (syn. Schoenoplectus lacustris) Common Club-rush, Tule
• Scirpus maritimus (syn. Bolboschoenus maritimus) Sea Club-rush
• Scirpus setaceus (syn. Isolepis setaceus) Bristle Club-rush

• Genus Scirpus
• Genus Scirpus
• Scirpus (Cyperaceae)
• "What Is 'Schoenoplectus americanus'?" and "Should We Reject The Name 'Scirpus americanus'?"

• Muntz, Philip A. A California Flora. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1973, copyright 1959
• Muntz, Philip A. A California Flora: Supplement’’. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1976 (Scirpus lacutris, validus, glaucus, p. 183))

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