Three-square Bulrush
Schoenoplectus pungens
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoenoplectus_pungens
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Order
Poales
Family
Cyperaceae
Genus
Schoenoplectus
Three-square Bulrush belongs to the family Cyperaceae, order Poales, within the Liliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Three-square Bulrush faces severe threats from wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to urban development, agricultural conversion, and water management practices that alter natural hydrology. Climate change-induced shifts in precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events further threaten the specialized wetland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Three-square Bulrush inhabits freshwater and brackish wetlands including marshes, pond margins, ditches, and shallow water edges of lakes and slow-moving streams. The species typically grows in areas with fluctuating water levels and can tolerate both seasonal flooding and periodic drought conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Three-square Bulrush faces severe threats from wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to urban development, agricultural conversion, and water management practices that alter natural hydrology. Climate change-induced shifts in precipitation patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events further threaten the specialized wetland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Agricultural conversion of wetland areas
Climate change impacts on wetland hydrology
Hydrological alterations from water management
Urban and industrial development
Wetland habitat loss and fragmentation
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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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
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Three-square Bulrush (Schoenoplectus pungens). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/three-square-bulrush