Scirpus ancistrochaetus

Barbed Bristle Bulrush

FWS Focus

Overview

Characteristics
Overview

The northeastern bulrush is a member of the sedge family (Cyperaceae) native to the northeastern United States. It is a wetland obligate occurring in ephemeral wetlands and beaver-influenced wetlands in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. It was first described as a new species by A.E. Schuyler in 1962 (Schuyler 1962, entire) and is one of 18 species in North America of a natural group of leafy bulrushes within the genus Scirpus. The species’ optimal habitat includes fluctuating water levels, little canopy cover, and acidic to circumneutral soils with high organic matter.

The Service listed the species as endangered in 1991.  At that time, there were 13 known extant occurrences in seven states. As of 2018, the northeastern bulrush is known to occur in eight states, with at least 148 extant populations. The populations can be loosely organized into northern and southern “regions” with a large gap in the distribution in southeastern New York. The species is listed as endangered in all states in which it occurs except West Virginia, which does not have endangered species legislation.

Our knowledge of the species’ genetic makeup is based on a limited sample of genetic markers. Rangewide, the northeastern bulrush exhibits low genetic diversity but diversity varies geographically.  The New England region shows very little diversity, while the southern states exhibit higher diversity along with some genetically unique populations. The species can reproduce sexually and clonally, but successful sexual reproduction and dispersal appears rare, resulting in clonal populations with clumped distributions and almost no genetic diversity.  Additional genetic diversity may be present in undescribed markers. 

Scientific Name

Scirpus ancistrochaetus
Common Name
barbed bristle bulrush
northeastern bulrush
barbedbristle bulrush
FWS Category
Flowering Plants
Kingdom

Location in Taxonomic Tree

Identification Numbers

TSN:

Characteristics

Characteristic category

Habitat

Characteristics
Habitat
Wetland

Areas such as marshes or swamps that are covered often intermittently with shallow water or have soil saturated with moisture.

Geography

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Timeline

Explore the information available for this taxon's timeline. You can select an event on the timeline to view more information, or cycle through the content available in the carousel below.

6 Items

Listing

Listing

Five Year Review

Five Year Review

Five Year Review

Delisting

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Listing

Nov 8, 1990

Nov 8, 1990 Listing (Endangered)
ETWP; Proposed Endangered Status for Scirpus ancistrochaetus (northeastern bulrush); 55 FR 46963 469…
  • Publication type: Proposed
  • Population:
Item 1

Listing

May 7, 1991

May 7, 1991 Listing (Endangered)
ETWP; Determination of Endangered Status for Scirpus ancistrochaetus (Northern bulrush); 56 FR 21091…
  • Publication type: Final
  • Population:
Item 2

Five Year Review

Jul 6, 2005

Jul 6, 2005 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of a 5-Year Review of 5 Listed Species: The Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys…
  • Publication type: Notice
  • Population:
Item 3

Five Year Review

Aug 4, 2010

Aug 4, 2010 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Five Listed Species: Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squirrel, Northeastern B…
  • Publication type: Notice
  • Population:
Item 4

Five Year Review

Aug 8, 2018

Aug 8, 2018 Five Year Review (Information Solicitation)
Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of 19 Northeastern Species
  • Publication type: Notice
  • Population:
Item 5

Delisting

Jul 31, 2024

Jul 31, 2024 Delisting
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of Northeastern Bulrush From the Federal List…
  • Publication type: Proposed
  • Population:
Item 6