Search / Plant Profile / Scirpus ancistrochaetus

Plant Profile

Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)

A drooping flower head bearing dark, chocolate-brown florets with broad bracts. Photo Credit: William Larkin

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Cyperaceae
State: CAN, MA, MD, NH, NY, PA, QC, VA, VT, WV
Nature Serve ID: 150401
Lifeform: Graminoid
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993

Description:

This leafy bulrush in the sedge family is currently known only from about 60 populations scattered from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, south to West Virginia. An obligate wetland plant, Scirpus ancistrochaetus grows in shallow water along the margins of sinkhole ponds (in the south), beaver ponds, sandplain depressions, backwater ponds in river floodplains, a boggy marsh, and even a wet depression on a mountaintop rocky bald -- broadly described as "low areas of hilly country" (Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program 1992). Sandstone or sand appears to be its favored substrate, and sites tend to share the common feature of a fluctuating water level. Although it is everywhere rare (with populations mostly under a few dozen stems), several new discoveries have been made with increased inventorying and an improved understanding of the habitat features with which it is commonly associated. Research and Management Summary: Several recent field studies of Scirpus ancistrochaetus have revealed much about its ecology and habitat associations. Extensive field surveys have turned up a number of new populations, and monitoring efforts are ongoing in a number of states. Plant Description: Scirpus ancistrochaetus is a tall (to 1.2 m) bulrush with leaves from 3 to 8 mm wide. Its short, woody rhizomes give rise to a flowering stem in in mid-June to mid-July, with a drooping flower head bearing dark, chocolate-brown florets with broad bracts. Each floret has six rigid bristles ending in recurved, sharp-pointed barbs -- the source of its Latin name, ancistrochaetus, meaning "hooked hairs." The 1.1-1.3 mm-long dry, one-seeded fruits (achenes) ripen in late summer.

Where is Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Scirpus ancistrochaetus is described from a variety of wetlands along its extensive range. In the north, the species is found most commonly on the edge of shallow beaver ponds (Royte and Lortie 2000) where water levels vary depending on animal activity. One population occurs on an inland sandplain in Massachusetts, in a depression that periodically fills with groundwater. In the south, the taxon occurs often in sinkhole ponds that form in sandstone bedrock at intermediate elevations around 200 to 500 meters (somewhat higher elevations in the Virginias). Plants at all sites occur around the margins of ponds in 8 to 40 cm of standing water (in wet years). In a study comparing Pennsylvania wetlands that support Scirpus ancistrochaetus with nearby ponds that did not, researchers found that Scirpus ponds were typically larger (> 400 square meters), more free of forest canopy cover, higher in exchangeable sodium (> 7 ppm), and higher in pH (Lentz and Dunson 1999).Associated plant species reported from sites with the bulrush include: Dulichium arundinaceum, Ilex verticillata, Scutellaria lateriflora, Boehmeria cylindrica, Apocynum sp., Rosa palustris, Lyonia ligustrina, Vaccinium angustifolium, Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Pinus strobus, Nuphar advena, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Lemna minor, Carex crinita, Carex lupuliformis, Carex lurida, Carex lupulina, Carex canescens, Carex vesicaria, Carex stricta, Eleocharis obtusa, Eleocharis quadrangulata, Scirpus cyperinus, Scirpus pedicellatus, Triadenum virginicum, Glyceria canadensis, Glyceria septentrionalis, Glyceria acutiflora, Osmunda cinnamomea, Leersia oryzoides, Potamogeton pulcher, Polygonum amphibium, Sium suave, Scutellaria lateriflora, Bidens frondosa, Polygonum punctatum, Nuphar variegatum, Schoenoplectis tabernaemontani, Sparganium androcladum, Hypericum virginicum, Galium tinctorum, and Ludwigia palustris (Schuyler 1962, Bartgis 1992, MANHESP 1992, Lentz and Dunson 1999, Royte and Lortie 2000, NatureServe 2001).

Distribution:

Scirpus ancistrochaetus is found in the Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, and north-central Massachusetts. Although once reported from New York and Quebec, the species is now con

States & Provinces:

Northeastern Bulrush can be found in Canada, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia

Which CPC Partners conserve Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus)?

Native Plant Trust

Conservation Actions

09/27/2020

Scirpus ancistrochaetus currently grows at the NEWFS Garden.

09/27/2020

Additional seed germination trials have been undertaken at the New England Wild Flower Society (Framingham, Massachusetts). Fresh and dried seed both germinate well after a period of moist cold (in refrigeration or storage outdoors); this finding is corroborated by Lentz and Johnson (1998), who obtained optimal success with dried and stratified seed. Flowering plants have been cultivated for seed.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

There are approximately 113 extant occurrences known in the Appalachians from southern Vermont and New Hampshire to western Virginia, with most occurrences in Pennsylvania. Most of the known sites have small populations. The plants are restricted to fairly specific wetland habitats that are infrequent, especially in the southern part of the range. Various threats are associated with the habitat, including drainage and development, agricultural runoff, and any developments that could alter the local hydrology.

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

As articulated by NatureServe (2001) and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1991, 1993), threats include: Run-off from upland sources that contaminates wetlands where Scirpus ancistrochaetus is found Logging (particularly at one site in Maryland)

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

Precise numbers of populations of Scirpus ancistrochaetus are unknown, and others may yet be discovered. Approximately 50 to 60 sites are recorded. Because plants are clonal and population sizes also vary widely among years, estimating the global population is problematic.

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

Kendra Lentz of Pennsylvania State University has conducted extensive studies on: habitat characteristics; light and nutrient requirements; effects of simulated herbivory and plant competition on plant growth; seed germination; and flood-tolerance for Scirpus ancistrochaetus (Lentz 1998, Lentz and Cipollini 1998, Lentz and Johnson 1998, Lentz 1999, Lentz and Dunson 1999) Additional seed germination trials have been undertaken at the New England Wild Flower Society (Framingham, Massachusetts). Fresh and dried seed both germinate well after a period of moist cold (in refrigeration or storage outdoors); this finding is corroborated by Lentz and Johnson (1998), who obtained optimal success with dried and stratified seed. Flowering plants have been cultivated for seed. Scirpus ancistrochaetus currently grows at the NEWFS Garden.

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

Volunteer task forces of the New England Plant Conservation Program (New England Wild Flower Society) and other conservation organizations regularly monitor Scirpus ancistrochaetus in New England. Rodney L. Bartgis (The Nature Conservancy, West Virginia) has surveyed for the taxon in West Virginia and Maryland (Bartgis 1992) and maintains a regular monitoring program. G. C. Tucker (Eastern Illinois University) reports a new site for Scirpus ancistrochaetus in Canada (Tucker, in review, Rhodora) Tom Rawinski of Massachusetts Audubon Society (Lincoln, Massachusetts) has surveyed for Scirpus ancistrochaetus in Virginia Joshua Royte (The Nature Conservancy, Brunswick, Maine) and John Lortie (Woodlot Alternatives, Topsham, Maine) have surveyed for the taxon in New Hampshire and found several new occurrences (Royte and Lortie 2000). The Nature Conservancy has conducted systematic surveys for the taxon in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

More extensive surveys in suitable habitat to find new occurrences of Scirpus ancistrochaetus Studies to assess the relative contribution of sexual and asexual reproduction to sustaining population viability and possible roles of inbreeding depression Experimental field studies to determine how water levels and other ecological factors can be manipulated to promote establishment and expansion of populations Studies of inter-breeding dynamics with other Scirpus species.

Elizabeth J. Farnsworth

01/01/2010

Field studies to determine the extent to which Scirpus ancistrochaetus forms natural seed banks