Scirpus cernuus  Vahl   =Scirpus cernuus var. californicus   Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)   Native   California Club Rush

                                           June Photo

Plant Characteristics: Annual with fibrous roots; culms cespitose, nearly filiform, 4-20 cm. tall; one basal leaf sheath bearing a convolute blade, 2-5 cm. long, the others without blades or with short blades to 3 mm. long; involucral leaf solitary, appearing as a continuation of the culm, 2-5 mm. long; spikelet solitary, ovoid, 2-5 mm. long, scales broad, obtuse, keeled at tip, pale brown to deep brown, with green midrib; bristles none, stamens 2 or 3, style trifid, achene trigonous, punctate, white turning brown at maturity, 1 mm. long.

Habitat:  Coastal Salt Marsh, Freshwater Marsh; low elevs., L. Calif. to Wash., Santa Rosa and San Miguel Ids.  May-Aug.

Name:  Latin, scirpus, the classical name.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 902).  Latin, cernuus, turned towards the earth.  (Jaeger 51).  John Johnson suggested that the name may have been given because the slender stems bend toward the ground in fruit.  He said he had not observed the plant and does not know the growth pattern.  Observation of the plant in the field indicates that only the outer culms grow outward and few actually turn toward the ground.  (my comments).

General:  Uncommon in the study area, found only in the vicinity of the old salt works below the north end of Eastbluff.  Found again in Aug. 1990 in upper Big Canyon under a canopy of willows and in 1994 at 23rd St.  (my comments).      A cosmopolitan genus of about 200 species.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 902).       Scirpus species have been know to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller 383).      Variety californicus not recognized.  (Hickman, Ed. 1358).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1147; Munz, Calif. Flora 1417; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 903; Roberts 43.

Photo Ref:  June 7 83 # 24A; April-May 94 #6A

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.  

First Found:  June 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 25.

Have Plant Specimen.

Last edit 6/8/04.

                                            April Photo