W&M ScholarWorks Reports 1-1-1995 Wool Grass Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth Gene Silberhorn Virginia Institute of Marine Science Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/reports Part of the Plant Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Silberhorn, G. (1995) Wool Grass Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth. Wetland Flora Technical Reports, Wetlands Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/m2-k9fm-5y57 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Reports by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Wetlands Technical Report Program Wetland Flora No. 95-1 / January 1995 Gene Silberhorn Wool Grass Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth Growth Habit and Diagnostic Characteristics Habitat The common name of this plant, wool grass, is a Scirpus cyperinus is frequently found in several misnomer because it is not a grass, but a member of wetland types including tidal and nontidal freshwater the sedge family (Cyperaceae). Although Scirpus marshes, sedge meadows, scrub/shrub wetlands, cyperinus is grasslike in general appearance, the edges of swamps, lakes, ponds and ditches. Wool upper part of the stem (culm) is triangular in cross grass often invades altered wetlands, such as power section, it has enclosed leaf sheaths and the floral line right-of-ways and ditches. Because S. cyperinus is morphology typical of sedges. Wool grass is a coarse, not particularly shade-tolerant, it is most often found tufted perennial that ranges from one to over two in open wetlands and is commonly associated with meters tall (up to 6.5 feet), grows in dense clusters soft rush (Juncus effusus), nut sedges (Cyperinus and has rough-margined, long, narrow leaves (less spp.), netted chainfern (Woodwardia areolata) and on than 1 cm wide) that droop near the tips. A significant the margins of broadleaved cattail (Typha latifolia) diagnostic feature is the dark brown, robust-branch- stands. This sedge can tolerate periods of inundation, ing, fruiting clusters evident in autumn. The fruiting but usually grows in saturated soils. head is made up of many bud-like or miniature cone- like spikelets that are green in flowering stage, but Ecological Values / Benefits become dark brown, fuzzy, and somewhat lax or drooping from late August to October. Sedges belonging to the genus Scirpus are generally considered to be good waterfowl foods. Scirpus Distribution species produce small, hard-coated fruits known as achenes that are eaten by ducks, marsh birds and Wool grass is wide-ranging in geographic distribution shorebirds. Muskrats and geese eat stems and under- in eastern North America and can be found in ground parts (roots and rhizomes). wetland habitats from Newfoundland to Minnesota and south to Louisiana and Florida. It is found through- Hydrophytic Factor / Wetland Indicator Status out Virginia. According to the National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Virginia (1988), Scirpus cyperinus is classified as a facultative wetland plant (FACW). FACW plants usually occur in wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%). Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth Wetlands Program This report was funded, in part, by the Department of Illustration by School of Marine Science Environmental Qualitys Coastal Resources Management Kent Forrest Virginia Institute of Marine Science Program through Grant No. NA47OZ0287-01 of the College of William and Mary National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Printed on Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062 Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, recycled Dr. Carl Hershner, Program Director under the Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended. paper..