SCHOENOPLECTUS SUBTERMINALIS (Torr.) Sojak
Swaying-rush
FAMILY: Cyperaceae
SYNONYM: Scirpus subterminalis Torrey ssp. subterminalis
var. subterminalis
HABIT: Submersed herbaceous perennial from a slender
rhizome; fertile culms 0.2-1.4 m.; fruiting July-September.
SIMILAR SPECIES: Non-flowering plants are very similar to
several other types of submersed aquatics, particularly to Scirpus pungens
and S. torreyi. Schuyler (1972) discusses these problems in
identification and provides helpful illustrations.
TOTAL RANGE: Nfld. to AK, s. to GA, OH, IN, IL, MO,
WY, ID, and OR; very local throughout its total range.
STATE RANGE: Known only from a single population in Williams
County.
STATE STATUS: 1980 to present: Endangered.
HABITAT: Lakes, bog ponds, usually in neutral to calcareous
waters; occurs in deeper water than any other Ohio Scirpus.
HAZARDS: Sudden changes in water level; mechanical
disturbance of submersed vegetation.
RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, but probably poor.
INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect complete, mature specimens
including underground parts.
COMMENTS: This species is easily overlooked and very
difficult to collect because of its deep-water habitat. It also may be easily
misidentified. It should be sought in suitable habitats throughout northern
Ohio. It may prove more frequent than the single record indicates.
SELECTED REFERENCES:
Brodberg, R. and T.R. Fisher. 1976. Scirpus subterminalis
Torr. (Cyperaceae): a new state record. Oh. J. Sci. 76: 109-110.
Koyama, T. 1962. The genus Scirpus Linn.: some North
American aphylloid species. Can. J. Bot. 40: 913-937.
Schuyler, A.E. 1972. Morphological and anatomical
differences in leaf blades of three North American aquatic bulrushes
(Cyperaceae: Scirpus). Bartonia 41: 57-60.
Schuyler, A.E. 1976. Chromosome numbers of some eastern
North American species of Scirpus. Bartonia 44: 27-31.
Stuckey, R.L. 1983. Absence of certain aquatic vascular
plants from the prairie peninsula. p. 97-103. In: Brewer, R. (ed.). Proceedings
of the eighth North American Prairie Conference. Western Michigan Univ.,
Kalamazoo, MI. 176 p.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Natural Areas and Preserves
Created: 2/1984 Allison W. Cusick