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Schoenoplectus californicus

(C.A.Mey.) Soják (1972)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Cyperaceae Genus: Schoenoplectus

‘aka‘akai (Ni‘ihau), ‘aka‘akai [akaakai](Ni‘ihau), California bulrush, kaluhā [kaluha]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennials with coarse, creeping rhizomes up to 2 cm in diameter, clothed with dark brown scales.

Stems: culms arising in a row along the rhizome, trigonous at least in api­cal part, the lower part obtusely trigonous or subterete, green, glaucous, smooth or occasionally weakly roughened, 90–380 cm tall, 1–2.5 cm in diameter below.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Leaves reduced to 3–4 bladeless sheaths. Margins entire. Sheathing, basal sheaths dark brown, the abaxial side split into pinnate fibers. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences dense anthelate, compound or partially decompound, recurved or nodding, rays 4–10, the primary ones 2–20 cm long, each with 1–4 spikelets on ultimate rays; involucral bract 2–3, the lowest one erect, subulate, 2–8 cm long; spikelets rusty or dark brown, ovoid ellipsoid to cylindrical, 5–10 mm long, 2.5 3 mm wide, acute; glumes brown or pal brown, ovate, 2.5–2.8 mm long, 1.7–2 mm wide, flecked with reddish brown resinous spots, the broad hyaline margins subentire the midnerve prolonged into a mucro 1–2 mm long; bristles 2–4, reddish brown, plumose. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 3. Ovary superior; stigmas 2.

Fruit: Achenes dark brown smooth; broadly obovate–elliptic; lenticular; 1.8–2 mm long; 1.2–1.4 mm wide; apiculate. Seeds 1; seed coat thin; free from pericarp; embryo basal; endosperm abundant.

Ploidy: 2n = 64; 68

Habitat:

Elevation Range: 0–1,220 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Synonyms (37)

Dichromena atrosanguinea É.Desv. (1854)
Elytrospermum californicum C.A.Mey. (1831)
Fimbristylis rigida Beetle (1949)
Malacochaete assimilis Ces. (1873)
Malacochaete chilensis Nees & Meyen ex Boeckeler (1870)
Malacochaete oligostachya Phil. (1858)
Malacochaete riparia Nees & Meyen (1834)
Malacochaete riparia var. chamissoi Nees (1842)
Malacochaete sanguinolenta Nees & Meyen ex Boeckeler (1870)
Malacochaete tatora (Kunth) Meyen (1841)
Schoenoplectus californicus subsp. tereticulmis (Steud.) Soják (1980)
Schoenoplectus californicus var. spoliatus (Barros) Vegetti (1995)
Schoenoplectus californicus var. tereticulmis (Steud.) Vegetti (1995)
Schoenoplectus chamissoi (Nees) Soják (1972)
Schoenoplectus pseudotriqueter (Steud.) Soják (1972)
Schoenoplectus riparius (Nees & Meyen) Palla (1888)
Schoenoplectus tatora (Kunth) Palla (1888)
Scirpus atrosanguineus (É.Desv.) Skottsb. (1924)
Scirpus californicus (C.A.Mey.) Steud. (1841)
Scirpus californicus subsp. tatora (Kunth) T.Koyama (1963)
Scirpus californicus var. californicus
Scirpus californicus var. chamissoi (Nees) Beetle (1949)
Scirpus californicus var. paschalis (Kük.) Beetle (1949)
Scirpus californicus var. spoliatus Barros (1937)
Scirpus californicus var. tatora (Kunth) Barros (1942)
Scirpus californicus var. tereticulmis (Steud.) Beetle (1941)
Scirpus chamissoi Schrad. ex Nees (1842)
Scirpus decipiens A.St.-Hil. ex Nees (1842)
Scirpus paschalis Kük. (1914)
Scirpus pseudotriqueter Steud. (1855)
Scirpus rigidus Schrad. ex Nees (1842)
Scirpus riparius J.Presl & C.Presl (1828)
Scirpus riparius var. paschalis Kük. (1920)
Scirpus riparius var. tereticulmis (Steud.) C.B.Clarke (1901)
Scirpus tatora Kunth (1837)
Scirpus tereticulmis Steud. (1855)
Scirpus validus Benth. (1840)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Not in flora
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean

Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír. 140: 127 (1972)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1431 (Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:174 (remove L [no evidence of nat.])

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Schoenoplectus californicus Wahiawa Bog Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5957 Kauai BISH 1977-07-21
2 Schoenoplectus californicus Kawailoa Swamp Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28023 Oahu BISH 1962-08-25
3 Schoenoplectus californicus Waineke Swamp Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 852 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
4 Schoenoplectus californicus Pukoo Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 409 Molokai BISH 1912-08-01
5 Schoenoplectus californicus Hamakua, Waikoloa abundant in one water hole Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2659 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-08
6 Schoenoplectus californicus Kaelepulu Stream near Kailua Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Oahu BISH 1920-06-01
7 Schoenoplectus californicus Kailua; edge of Kaelepulu Pond; north & west borders Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1940-05-30
8 Schoenoplectus californicus Hamakua, Waikoloa abundant in one water hole Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2659 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-08
9 Schoenoplectus californicus Kahului, Kanaha Pond Preserved_Specimen Stemmermann, R.L. 6750 Maui BISH 1981-03-22
10 Schoenoplectus californicus Kokee Preserved_Specimen Neal, M.C. Kauai BISH 1929-05-01
11 Schoenoplectus californicus Ponds southern end Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
12 Schoenoplectus californicus Ponds southern end Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
13 Schoenoplectus californicus Hamakua, Waikoloa abundant in one water hole Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2659 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-08
14 Schoenoplectus californicus James Campbell NWR, Kahuku, near gazebo with Typha latifolia, Brachiaria mutica, Echinochloa colona, Bacopa monnieri, Paspalum vaginatum, Bolboschoenus Preserved_Specimen 7' sedge in large clump Imada, C. 9222 Oahu BISH 1992-04-05
15 Schoenoplectus californicus Niaupala Fishpond, Kaluaaha salt marsh Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 19957 Molokai BISH 1939-01-02
16 Schoenoplectus californicus Kokee, Waineke Bog Preserved_Specimen 6' high; cross section rounded, triangle edges Plews, J.H.R. Kauai BISH 1986-03-15
17 Schoenoplectus californicus Kawainui Marsh, in drainage makai of levee on NE side of marsh Growing along drainage ditch intermingled with Schoenoplectus californicus, Rhizophora, Pluchea indica, Paspalum vaginatum. Preserved_Specimen Clumping sedge with gray-green stems, round throughout, up to 6 ft. tall. Imada, C. 20003 Oahu BISH 2000-03-10
18 Schoenoplectus californicus East Maui, Kipahulu Valley, lower dogleg mesic to wet koa forest with understory of Perrottetia sandwicensis, Psychotria hawaiiensis, Broussaisia arguta, Hedyotis acuminata; boggy ground at helipad Preserved_Specimen 1.5 m tall Wagner, W.L. 5905 Maui BISH 1988-03-09
19 Schoenoplectus californicus Kahuku Pt., 1/2 mi inland bog, sand flat Preserved_Specimen culms triangular; basal sheaths pale brown shading to dark brown below St.John, H. 24815 Oahu BISH 1952-05-04
20 Schoenoplectus californicus Mokouia Valley, 1st valley E of dried mud flat Preserved_Specimen Clumps; cubus obscurely trigonous St.John, H. 22842 Niihau BISH 1947-08-16
21 Schoenoplectus californicus mouth of Waipio Valley brackish water marsh Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 238 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-11
22 Schoenoplectus californicus Central Maui, southern coast of isthmus, Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge Sizable patch with stems up to 7 ft tall in pond area on NE margin of Kealia Pond. Associated with Bolboschoenus, Batis, Echinochloa crusgalli, Pluchea spp. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9826 Maui BISH 1998-10-06
23 Schoenoplectus californicus margins of Kanaha Pond NWR near Kahului with Schoenoplectus maritimus var. digynus Preserved_Specimen Henrickson, J.S. 3735 Maui BISH 1969-06-26
24 Schoenoplectus californicus road to Kumuwela Lookout marsh Preserved_Specimen 8' tall Crosby, M.R. 1490 Kauai BISH 1964-06-19
25 Schoenoplectus californicus Kanaha Pond and Paukukalo coastal marshes Preserved_Specimen 6-11' tall; stems spongy inside, bluntly trigonal Hobdy, R.W. 977 Maui BISH 1981-01-17
26 Schoenoplectus californicus James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Kahuku, Oahu Emergent in middle of pond to the edge in large spreading clumps. Very little other vegetation, some Ludwigia octovalvis and Brachiaria mutica towards the edge. Preserved_Specimen Tall dark green spikes,slightly triangular, with reddish-brown, tassle-like inflorescences at very top. Crago, L.M. 2005045 Oahu BISH 2005-02-04
27 Schoenoplectus californicus Kahuku marsh Preserved_Specimen up to 10' tall Degener, O. 26896 Oahu BISH 1960-03-01
28 Schoenoplectus californicus E side of Kawainui Marsh, Kailua in standing water, mud Preserved_Specimen erect, culms somewhat triangular, to 3' tall Fosberg, F.R. 56673 Oahu BISH 1977-03-05
29 Schoenoplectus californicus Waimea, Kokee, Waineke Swamp along Mohihi Rd. ~1/2 mi. SE of Lodge marshy, with Cyperaceae, Gramineae and Cyclosorus interruptus Preserved_Specimen herb with rhizomes deeply immersed in mud, stems green, erect, 1-2 m tall. Lorence, D.H. 5289 Kauai BISH 1987-07-01
30 Schoenoplectus californicus Lihue District. Along edge of canal, next to bridge at corner of Kauai Beach Drive and Kauai Beach Road. East Kauai Floating on surface of water on margin of canal Megathyrsus maximus, Lleucaena leucocephala, Sphagneticola triloba, Pistia stratiotes, Ficus elastica Preserved_Specimen A single patch 5 meters across on the edge of the West bank of the canal. Plants in flower and fruit growing directly out of water, culms approximately 2.5 meters above surfacce, partly in shade of Ficus elastica trees that line Kauai Beach Drive. Williams, A.M. 750 Kauai BISH 2022-09-23
31 Schoenoplectus californicus Hamakua Marsh, Kailua, mauka side of Hamakua Drive standing water Preserved_Specimen sterile Imada, C. 9215 Oahu BISH 1992-04-04
32 Schoenoplectus californicus Hamakua, Waikoloa abundant in one water hole Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2659 Hawaii BISH 1942-12-08
33 Schoenoplectus californicus Quarry Rd. at Mokapu Blvd with Brachiaria mutica Preserved_Specimen Smith, L.B. 24 Oahu BISH 1975-10-11
34 Schoenoplectus californicus Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Triangle Pond Preserved_Specimen Perennial with rhizomes to 1.5m Annable, C.R. 3895 Maui BISH 1999-02-04
35 Schoenoplectus californicus Huleia NWR Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5958 Kauai BISH 1977-07-19
36 Schoenoplectus californicus Kokee, Waineke stream Preserved_Specimen Stone, B.C. 3381 Kauai BISH 1960-04-12
37 Schoenoplectus californicus Waineke Swamp Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 852 Kauai BISH 1917-07-03
38 Schoenoplectus californicus Waimea District: Hanapepe, Hanapepe River along bank near Swinging Bridge. Preserved_Specimen Kaneshige, C. 1 Kauai BISH 2022-06-22
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