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Bolboschoenus fluviatilis

River Bulrush

Family CyperaceaeGenus Bolboschoenus

A dense clump of long green sedge leaves arching over pale beach sand
The whole plantEwen CameronCC BY 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, GraminoidPLANTS Database
Height
6.6 ft2 mPLANTS Database
Flower
BrownPLANTS Database
Blooms
Mid SummerPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database

Growing conditions

Sun
Shade tolerance: HighPLANTS Database
Soil
Adapted to medium, fine textured soilsPLANTS Database
Soil pH
4.0-7.5PLANTS Database
Moisture
Moisture use: MediumPLANTS Database
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • River bulrush and its fruits are important food for waterfowl such as geese, ducks, bitterns and swans, and its stands give cover and nesting sites to these and other birds and to small mammals. Wikipedia: Bolboschoenus fluviatilis

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 21 days.

3% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19Public domain
Show the original text
Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae). Both species germ. only in 40-70L and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OS. B. fluviatilis germ 40-70L(3% in 3rd w), 70L-40-70L{6% in 2nd w), and 40-70D- 40-70L(1%). The pattern seems to be the same as
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 15, 2024.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 1095 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 years from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

2% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19Public domain
Show the original text
Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae). Both species germ. only in 40-70L and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OS. B. fluviatilis germ 40-70L(3% in 3rd w), 70L-40-70L{6% in 2nd w), and 40-70D- 40-70L(1%). The pattern seems to be the same as B. caldwellii. Seeds DS 3 y germ. 70L(2/112) and 70D(none).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19Public domain
Show the original text
Bolboschoenus (Cyperaceae). Both species germ. only in 40-70L and none in 70D, 70L, 70 GA-3, or OS. B. fluviatilis germ 40-70L(3% in 3rd w), 70L-40-70L{6% in 2nd w), and 40-70D- 40-70L(1%). The pattern seems to be the same as
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Bolboschoenus p. 19. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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