Schoenoplectus acutus
(Muhlenberg ex Bigelow) Löve & Löve
Hardstem Bulrush
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.768309
Element CodePMCYP0Q012
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyCyperaceae
GenusSchoenoplectus
Other Common Nameshardstem bulrush (EN) Hard-stemmed Bulrush (EN) Scirpe aigu (FR)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Taxonomic CommentsSchoenoplectus acutus is made up of two varieties, S. acutus var. acutus, occurring mostly in the midwest and east, and S. acutus var. occidentalis, occurring in the west. Only a few states have both varieties.
In Kartesz 1999, Scirpus acutus was subsumed under Schoenoplectus acutus var. acutus minus Scirpus occidentalis which is now under Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis which includes a previously recognized hybrid from 1994 - Scirpus x rubiginosus.
The Kartesz 1999 Schoenoplectus acutus is broader since it now includes the Scirpus rubiginosus which in 1994 Kartesz recognized as a full species.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-06-27
Change Date1984-09-06
Edition Date2025-06-27
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsSchoenoplectus acutus is a perennial, wetland grass-like plant that grows throughout much of North America, in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It also potentially occurs in Europe and northeastern Asia. With a large range extent, more than 1200 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsSchoenoplectus acutus is found throughout North America from Alaska to Nova Scotia, south to southern Mexico (FNA 2002, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Specimens from Europe and northeastern Asia may belong to this species, but these are not included in the rank factor calculations because they are not confirmed. Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
See individual entries for distribution details about the two varieties.
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, there are estimated to be more than 1200 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, Schoenoplectus acutus is potentially threatened by development, water management, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
Schoenoplectus acutus grows in "fresh, often calcareous to brackish marshes, fens, lakes, slow streams" (FNA 2002).
Palustrine HabitatsHERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDBog/fen
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| New Brunswick | S4 | Yes |
| British Columbia | S5 | Yes |
| Nova Scotia | S4 | Yes |
| Prince Edward Island | S4 | Yes |
| Saskatchewan | S4 | Yes |
| Ontario | S5 | Yes |
| Northwest Territories | S4 | Yes |
| Manitoba | S4 | Yes |
| Quebec | SNR | Yes |
| Yukon Territory | S4 | Yes |
| Alberta | S5 | Yes |
| Island of Newfoundland | S3 | Yes |
United StatesN5
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|
| Alaska | SNR | Yes |
| Maryland | SU | Yes |
| Ohio | SNR | Yes |
| Georgia | SNR | Yes |
| Missouri | SNR | Yes |
| Montana | S4 | Yes |
| Virginia | S1 | Yes |
| Tennessee | SNR | Yes |
| Maine | SNR | Yes |
| Washington | SNR | Yes |
| Oregon | SNR | Yes |
| Connecticut | S2 | Yes |
| Arizona | SNR | Yes |
| New York | S5 | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | S2 | Yes |
| New Hampshire | SNR | Yes |
| Vermont | S5 | Yes |
| California | SNR | Yes |
| New Mexico | SNR | Yes |
| Arkansas | SNR | Yes |
| Wisconsin | SNR | Yes |
| South Dakota | SNR | Yes |
| Kentucky | SNR | Yes |
| Michigan | SNR | Yes |
| Kansas | SNR | Yes |
| Nebraska | SNR | Yes |
| Massachusetts | SNR | Yes |
| West Virginia | S2 | Yes |
| North Carolina | SNR | Yes |
| Utah | SNR | Yes |
| Idaho | SNR | Yes |
| Illinois | SNR | Yes |
| Nevada | S3 | Yes |
| New Jersey | SNR | Yes |
| Alabama | SNR | Yes |
| Indiana | SNR | Yes |
| North Dakota | SNR | Yes |
| Colorado | S4 | Yes |
| Oklahoma | SNR | Yes |
| Iowa | SNR | Yes |
| Minnesota | SNR | Yes |
| Wyoming | S4 | Yes |
| District of Columbia | SNR | Yes |
| Texas | SNR | Yes |
| Rhode Island | SNR | Yes |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (13)
Nevada (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Aurora Crater | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest | 5,689 |
Utah (2)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|
| Lewis Peak | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 11,616 |
| Wellsville | Wasatch-Cache National Forest | 1,717 |
References (15)
- Beetle, A.A. 1941. Studies in the Genus <i>Scirpus </i>L. III The American Species of the Section Lacustres Clarke in American Journal of Botany 28:691-708.
- Fassett, Norman C. 1940. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. McGraw- Hill Book Company, New York, New York. 382 p.
- Fernald, M.L. 1950 Gray's Manual of Botany, 8th ed. American Book Company, New York. 1632 pp.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 23. Magnoliophyta: Commelinidae (in part): Cyperaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 608 pp.
- Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
- Godfrey, R.K., and J.W. Wooten. 1979. Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Monocotyledons. Univ. Georgia Press, Athens. 712 pp.
- iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- Mohlenbrock, R.H. 1976. Illustrated flora of Illinois. Sedges: Cyperus to Scleria. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, IL.
- <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
- Radford, A.E., H.E. Ahles, and C.R. Bell. 1968. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas. Univ. North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. 1183 pp.
- Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
- Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).