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Schoenoplectus californicus

Schoenoplectus californicus

(C.A. Mey.)
Junco

Family: Cyperaceae
Order: Poales
Class: Liliopsida
Phylum / Division: Magnoliophyta
Kingdom: Plantae

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Synonyms: Scirpus californicus.





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Records from Neuquén capital


Description


Schoeneoplectus californicus is a species of sedge known by the common names California bulrush, southern bulrush and giant bulrush. It is also sometimes called "tule", but the closely related Schoenoplectus acutus is the species most often referred to by that name.

 Schoenoplectus californicus is a rhizomed water plant found in marshy areas. It is native to the southern and western United States as well as Mexico, Central America, South America, Easter Island, and the Falkland Islands. It is naturalized on some Pacific islands including New Zealand, Hawaii and the Cook Islands. It has tall, thin, dark green stems which are usually triangular in cross-section and woolly, bristly tan or brown flowers in panicle inflorescences.

Uses: A notable subspecies is the totora, Schoenoplectus californicus subsp. tatora. This is famous for making up the floating islands on which the Uros people of Lake Titicaca dwell, as well as occurring on isolated Easter Island in the Pacific.

Boats have also been made from this plant by many cultures, including the Caballito de totora in Peru for over 3,000 years. The plants are still farmed in wetlands next to the sea for the boats, and there is also an ecological reserve that specifically protects these sedge farms called the Swamps of Huanchaco.

Source: Wikipedia, article Schoenoplectus californicus. Content adapted from Wikipedia, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. Accessed on 17/07/2026.





Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 584423
  Adult

Neuquén capital
Neuquén
Argentina
04/11/2021
Tiziano Luka Pesci Rubilar



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Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
203510311/04/2021ArgentinaNeuquénPaseo de la Costa-neuquén Capital, Neuquén capitalTiziano Luka Pesci Rubilar
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Schoenoplectus californicus – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 22/09/2026.