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| ## Chairmaker's bulrush {#chairmakers-bulrush .Title-Header}          |
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| *Schoenoplectus americanus* (Pers.) Volk. ex Schinz & R. Keller       |
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| Plant Symbol = SCAM6                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.386111111111111in" height="3.5840277777777776in"}

# Alternative Names

American bulrush, Olney's three-square, three-cornered grass,
three-cornered sedge, bayonet rush, three square sedge, American three
square, *Scirpus* *americanus*

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: American three square stems were used by the
Nuu-chah-nulth as the foundation material for their beautiful
wrapped-twine baskets of tall basket sedge (Pojar & Mackinnon 1994). The
leaves were used in making shopping bags and woven into hats (Moerman
1998). The leaves mixed with oil was rubbed on childrens' heads to make
their hair grow long and thick (Ibid.).

*Schoenoplectus americanus* seeds are rich in protein and can be ground
and added to flour when making breads and cakes. The seed can be ground
into a powder, mixed with water, boiled and eaten as a mush (Moerman
1998).

*Wildlife*: American three square rhizomes are preferred by muskrat and
snow goose. The seeds are eaten by over wintering ducks in the south as
a small part of their diet. The achenes are eaten by waterfowl. This
species provides cover for many birds and small mammals.

# Status

# Please consult the Plants Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Sedge family (Cyperaceae). American three square is a medium
height to tall, erect native herbaceous plant, up to seven feet tall
(Tiner 1987). This species is a perennial from long stout rhizomes; with
single stems that are in small groups, sharply triangular, fifteen to
one hundred centimeters tall (Pojar & MacKinnon 1994). The leaves are
firm, long, and strongly folded, sometimes flat and two to four
millimeters wide. The fruits are dark-brown, seedlike, pointy tipped
achenes, two to three millimeters long (Ibid.).

# *Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

# Adaptation 

American three square occurs along streams, around ponds and lakes, in
sloughs, swamps, fresh and brackish marshes, wet woods, and roadside
ditches; common at low elevations. It also occurs in beach pools and
sandy flats, often in shallow water up to about one foot or even 2.5
feet (Voss 1972).

# Establishment

*Propagation by Seed*: Sow seeds in a cold frame pot standing in three
centimeters of water. The seeds germinate quickly. When they are large
enough to handle, plant them into their permanent positions in early
summer.

Large divisions can be planted directly into their permanent positions.
It is best to pot smaller divisions and grow them in a cold frame,
out-planting after they are well established in the summer.

# 

# Management

Maintenance of American three square stands depends primarily on water
levels and salinity levels. Maximum survival and growth in coastal areas
occur where average minimum yearly water levels do not fall below five
to four inches above the soil surface.

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Available through wetland plant nurseries. Contact your local Natural
Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service)
office for more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

# References

Braun, L.E. 1967. *The monocotyledoneae from cat-tails to orchids*. The
Ohio State University Press, Columbus, Ohio.

Bruggen, T. V. 1976. *The vascular plants of South Dakota*. The Iowa
State University Press, Ames, Iowa.

Gleason, H. A. 1952. *The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
northeastern United States and adjacent Canada*. 3 vols. The New York
Botanical Garden, New York, New York.

Moerman, D. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber Press, Oregon.

Mohlenbrock, R.H., ed. 1975. *Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois*.
Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, Illinois.

Munz, P.A. 1965. *A California flora*. University of California Press,
Berkeley & Los Angeles, California.

Pojar, J. & A. MacKinnon 1994. *Plants of the Pacific Northwest coast:
Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alaska*. Lone Pine Publishing,
Redmond, Washington.

Steyermark, J. A. 1963. *Flora of Missouri*. The Iowa State University
Press, Ames Iowa.

Strausbaugh, P. D. & E. L. Core 1977. *Flora of West Virginia*. 2^nd^
ed. Seneca Books, Inc., Morgantown, West Virginia.

Swink, F. & G. S. Wilhelm 1979. *Plants of the Chicago region*. 3^rd^
ed. The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.

The Great Plains Flora Association 1986. *Flora of the Great Plains*.
University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.

Tiner, R.W. Jr. 1987. *A field guide to coastal wetland plants of the
northeastern United States*. The University of Massachusetts Press,
Amherst, Massachusetts.

Voss, E.G. 1972. *Michigan flora*. Cranbrok Institute of Science,
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, & University of Michigan Herbarium.

# Prepared By

#### *Jammie Favorite*

formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

# Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# Species Coordinator

*M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Sciences Dept., Davis,
California

Edited: 19jun02 jsp; 03jun03 ahv; 060816 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
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orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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