Schoenoplectus pungens (Sharp Club-Rush)

Schoenoplectus pungens has strongly 3-angled stems, and grows to about 60 cm in swampy conditions. Yass River bed, Gundaroo NSW

Photograph by John Tann from Sydney. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Schoenoplectus pungens

Photograph by Kevin Thiele. Some rights reserved. (view image details)

Credits:
Description and Habitat information is sourced from: State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria), Victorian Resources Online,http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/water_sip_scientific_a Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.

Growth Characteristics information is sourced from: State Flora Catalog, Government of South Australia Licensed under Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license.

SHARP CLUB-RUSH FACTS

distribution map showing range of Schoenoplectus pungens in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License

Common Name
Sharp Club-Rush

Other Names
American Club-rush

Description
The Sharp Club-Rush is a medium-sized perennial sedge with a long rhizomatous root system. Stems from 20-60 cm high and 3 mm diameter, without nodes (swollen bumps) and smooth and hairless. Leaves to 20 cm long.

Flower-heads in small clusters of 1-5 ovoid spikelets. Flower bract (leaf-like extension of the stem) 3-6 cm long. Fruit an obovoid, smooth, shiny, grey-brown to dark brown, nut, 3 mm long and 2 mm diameter.

Habitat
Mainly grows on the fringes of lakes and in marshes. Appears to tolerate some salinity. Often found with other Club-rush species.

Distribution
Sharp Club-Rush is found in Victoria, south east New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, south west of Western Australia, Also found in Europe and the Americas.

Growth Characteristics
Height (m): 0.5 - 1.2
Spread (m): 1 - 3
Soil Texture: sand, loam, clay
Soil pH: acid soils, neutral soils, alkaliine soils
Frost Sensitivity: resistant
Minimum Rainfall (mm): the species is best suited to constantly moist sites
Flower Colour: blue
Flower Season: summer, autumn

(source: SA State Flora Catalog)

Classification

Class:	Liliopsida
Order:	Poales
Family:	Cyperaceae
Genus:	Schoenoplectus
Species:	pungens
Common Name:	Sharp Club-Rush