PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Slender Bulrush (Schoenoplectus heterochaetus)

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Photo by USDA-NRCS

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Slender Bulrush (Schoenoplectus heterochaetus), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found along margins of freshwater lakes and streams. Blooming occurs throughout June, fruiting July through September. The optimal identification period for this species is June through September.

Scirpus heterochaetus, Scirpus lacustris, Scirpus lacustris var. tenuiculmis

 
 
 

Slender bulrush is an emergent aquatic graminoid, 1-3m tall, with hard and slender stems and scales with short, red-brown lines on a usually tawny background. It has a loose and lax inflorescence, most or all of the spikelets are individually pedicellate. Spikes are light to medium brown, most flowers have three carpels, styles are 3-parted. Its achene are unequally three-angled. It has few leaves, most or all towards the base, commonly with prominent, well developed sheaths and short, poorly developed (or no) blades.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs in June, fruiting July through September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is June through September.

Associated species include Scirpus species, Najas flexilis, and Ceratophyllum demersum.

Slender bulrush prefers wet soils and is found along margins of freshwater lakes and streams.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.