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At the tip of the culm, dark green bulrush produces an inflorescence comprised of one to three (rarely four or five) compound umbels of spikelets; beneath the inflorescence are 3+ leafy bracts (similar to the leaves) that are up to 1' long and 1/2" wide. At least one of the bracts is always longer than the inflorescence. The umbels generate 1/4-4" long, straight branches in all directions that terminate in umbelletes of 5-20 spikelets that rest on slender, leafy bractlets; the spikelets may be sessile or may rest on 1/2" long branchlets. The branches and branchlets are green, straight, and stiff. Spikelets are less than 1/4" long (3-6 mm), ovoid or egg-shaped, yellowish green initially but darkening to brown or black later; the spikelets are an assemblage of numerous spirally arranged, overlapping scales and their florets. The florets each have a single subtending scale, three stamens, and an ovary with a tripartite style; they are wind pollinated. Bulblets may form on one or more branches and sprout late in the season. The umbels may be visually dense and complex and take some study to sort out.

Scirpus

Scirpus atrovirens

dark green bulrush [Blooms: May-Jul]