About Bolboschoenus robustus (Pursh) Soják
Bolboschoenus robustus is a perennial herb that grows from a rhizome system with attached tubers. Its stems are erect, three-angled, and the angles are rough with short hairs, reaching a maximum height of well over one meter. Leaves sheath the stem and produce long, flat or V-shaped blades. The inflorescence holds one or more clusters of many spikelets, along with long, leaflike bracts. This species often grows near its close relative Bolboschoenus maritimus, resembles it, and hybridizes with it. On the Gulf Coast of the United States, this plant is an important food source for waterfowl; its seeds are eaten by birds and other animals including muskrats. Native American tribes including the Pomo and Kawaiisu have traditionally used this plant for basketry, and some Indigenous groups also eat its tubers. Bolboschoenus robustus is native to North America, where it occurs along the eastern and southern coasts from Nova Scotia south to Florida, and along the Gulf coastline to Tabasco. It is also found in California, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and northern South America. It is most commonly a coastal species, growing in wet habitats such as brackish and saltwater marshes.
