Don't want to see ads? Sign up...




Schoenoplectus californicus

Schoenoplectus californicus

(C.A. Mey.)
Junco

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

 Request change

Synonyms: Scirpus californicus.





Filters




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


Loading map...




Species photographs

Count: 25

Foto
Photography ID: 696608
♂ ♀
  Adult

Parque Natural La Lucila
Buenos Aires
Argentina
07/28/2026
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 692017
♂ ♀
  Adult

San Isidro
Buenos Aires
Argentina
06/17/2026
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 687042
♂ ♀
  Adult

Río Luján y Panamericana
Buenos Aires
Argentina
06/10/2010
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 685399
♂ ♀
  Adult

Campana
Buenos Aires
Argentina
05/02/2026
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 684289
♂ ♀
  Adult

Vuelta de Obligado
Buenos Aires
Argentina
01/28/2018
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 682338
♂ ♀
  Adult

Colonia Carlos Pellegrini
Corrientes
Argentina
03/06/2023
Marcos Garberoglio
Foto
Photography ID: 674385
  Adult

Punta Indio
Buenos Aires
Argentina
02/15/2026
Peter Vidana
Foto
Photography ID: 674368
♂ ♀
  Adult

Vicente López
Buenos Aires
Argentina
02/16/2026
Marcos Garberoglio



 View all photographs of the species




 Add a photography of this species






Species vocalizations

Last vocalizations published



 Add an audio of this species





Species videos

Last filmings published




 Add a film of this species





Species reports



 Detail of places sorted by number of records






Species records

Count: 82



Page 1 of 9
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
251538020/08/2026ArgentinaCiudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresReserva Ecológica Costanera Sur (RECS)Marcos Garberoglio
250253128/07/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresParque Natural La LucilaMarcos Garberoglio
248517917/06/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresBosque Alegre, San IsidroMarcos Garberoglio
247152217/05/2026ArgentinaCiudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresReserva Ecológica Lago LuganoMarcos Garberoglio
246736302/05/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresCampanaMarcos Garberoglio
243728016/02/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresÁrea Natural Yrigoyen (Yrigoyen y el Río), Vicente LópezMarcos Garberoglio
243729715/02/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresReserva de la Biósfera Parque Costero Sur, Punta IndioPeter Vidana
243217410/02/2026ArgentinaCiudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresReserva Ecológica Ciudad Universitaria - Costanera Norte (RECU-CN)Marcos Garberoglio
241523111/01/2026ArgentinaBuenos AiresEco Parque san nicolas, San Nicolás de los ArroyosPeter Vidana
231728904/07/2025ArgentinaBuenos AiresEco Parque san nicolas, San Nicolás de los ArroyosPeter Vidana
Page 1 of 9

 Add a record of this species

📖
Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Schoenoplectus californicus – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 14/09/2026.