Bolboschoenus and Bulbostylis of Arkansas

(including numerous synonyms such as Bolboschoenus paludosus, Schoenoplectus fluviatilis, Scirpus fluviatilis, Scirpus maritimus, Scirpus maritimus L. var. paludosus, and Scirpus paludosus).

Revised September 19, 2003

(Green text designates species recognized in the draft "Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Arkansas", a document internal to the Arkansas Flora Committee, January 18, 2003, to be released in October of this year.

Blue text designates "possible additions" to the flora of Arkansas, not currently represented by specimens.

Red text designates excluded species, perhaps attributed to but not expected in Arkansas by this author.)

This page discusses two genera in alphabetical order.

Bolboschoenus: an annotated list

Plants of this genus can be told from most Arkansas true Scirpus by their large spikelets, 1 to 4 cm long

Smith (1988, 1994) recognized B. fluviatilis (as Scirpus fluviatilis (Torr.) Gray) as possible in northeastern Arkansas, based on Steyermark (1963). Yatskievych (1999) provides a discussion of synonyms and distribution, with keys to possible Arkansas species.

Bolboschoenus fluviatilis (Torr.) Sojak (River Rush)

Possible in northern Arkansas based on Missouri distribution (Yatskievych 1999) and North American distribution (Kartesz 1999).

Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla in W. D. J. Koch, et al. var. paludosus (A. Nelson) T. Koyama (Salt Marsh Clubrush)

Known in every state west of the Mississippi, except Arkansas (Kartesz 1999). The source of the Arkansas record is currently unknown to me, but it has been reported by specimen to the Arkansas Flora Committee.

Bolboschoenus robustus (Pursh) Sojak (Seacoast Bulrush)

Smith (1988) reported this species from Union County (specimens at UARK, USCH). I have reviewed the vouchers. The single site lies west of El Dorado on Champagnolle Road and covers about 25 acres of a roadside creek with high salt content from nearby oil wells (Smith 1988). This is a mostly coastal state species with the Arkansas occurrence being the only large landlocked state of occurrence (Kartesz 1999). It typically occurs in brackish marshes of the outer coastal plain (Radford, et al. 1968).

Bulbostylis of Arkansas: an annotated list

Smith (1994) and the Arkansas Flora Committee (2000) both recognize two species of Bulbostylis in the state. Several species in adjoining states, as well as varieties, are discussed below. Eighty to 120 species, widely distributed in tropical and warm-temperature retions of both the northern and southern hemispheres (Yatskievych 1999). Some authors have treated the genus as part of Fimbristylis or as Stenophyllus. Kral (1971) and Tucker (1987) provided reasons for maintaining the genus separately as Bulbostylis.

Keys to the Arkansas Bulbostylis can be found using both E. B. Smith (1994), for species, and Diggs, et al. (1999) for varieties.

Bulbostylis barbata (Rottb.) C. B. Clarke (Water-grass)

Gulf coastal states from Texas to Tennessee and Virginia and south (Kartesz 1999). Possible in south Arkansas; details of distribution have not been reviewed.

Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex C. B. Clarke ssp. capillaris (Dense Tuft Hairsedge)

This typical subspecies occurs in much of the eastern United States (Kartesz 1999). Yatskievych (1999) does not discuss subspecific taxa. For the moment (2001) I'm assuming Kartesz (1999) is correct and recognizing the Puerto Rican subspecies. Specimens (APCR, LSU, LTU, SMU, UARK, VDB) come from Baxt, Bent, Calh, Carr, Cleb, Colu, Conw, Crai, Fran, Garl, Hemp, Inde, Izar, Lafa, Loga, Mont, Ouac. Perr, Pula, Wash counties in Arkansas (I use the unique four letter county abbreviations frequently).

Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex C. B. Clarke ssp. antilliana (Britt.) T. Koyama

This variety occurs in Puerto Rico (Kartesz 1999); as such, it is unlikely in Arkansas.

Bulbostylis ciliatifolia (Ell.) Fern. var. ciliatifolia (Capillary Hair Sedge)

Bulbostylis ciliatifolia (Ell.) Fern. var. coarctata (Ell.) Kral

This variety has a coastal plain distribution from Texas to Virginia, with a historic/extirpated site for Tennessee (Kartesz 1999). It is possible in south or southwest Arkansas.

Bulbostylis juncoides (Vahl) Kukenth.

Known from Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas (Kartesz 1999). Possibilities for Arkansas have not been further reviewed, but it appears unlikely in Arkansas as it is absent in Diggs, et al. (1999), the flora of north central Texas.

Bulbostylis warei (Torr.) C. B. Clarke

Reported for Mississippi, historic for Alabama and North Carolina, present in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida (Kartesz 1999). Probably unlikely for Arkansas, based on this distribution.

References (also see main citations in Arkansas Carex treatment)

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, NC.

Kral, R. 1971. A treatment of Abildgaardia, Bulbostylis, and Fimbristylis (Cyperaceae) for North America. Sida 4:57-227.

Tucker. 1987. see Carex treatment for reference.

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