Black Bog-rush
Schoenus nigricans
Schoenus nigricans is a species of sedge known by the common names black bog-rush and black sedge. It is native to Eurasia, parts of Africa, Australia, and southern North America, including Mexico and the southernmost United States.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoenus_nigricans
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Schoenus
Black Bog-rush belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Schoenus nigricans is a species of sedge known by the common names black bog-rush and black sedge. It is native to Eurasia, parts of Africa, Australia, and southern North America, including Mexico and the southernmost United States.
Black Bog-rush faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Drainage of bogs, fens, and wet meadows for agriculture and development has eliminated much of its suitable habitat, while remaining populations are threatened by changes in water levels and quality.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
S. nigricans grows in many types of wetlands and other moist and alkaline habitat, including marshes, springs, seeps, peat bogs, heath, and alkali flats. Image:Schoenus nigricans Texas.jpg|Detail of mature fruiting head
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Black Bog-rush faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Drainage of bogs, fens, and wet meadows for agriculture and development has eliminated much of its suitable habitat, while remaining populations are threatened by changes in water levels and quality.
Agricultural intensification
Habitat drainage and conversion
Water level changes
Climate change affecting wetland hydrology
Eutrophication from nutrient runoff
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black Bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-bog-rush