Swamp sawgrass (Cladium mariscus, Tent. Fl. Bohem. 1: 32 (1809))

Family: Cyperaceae

Author: (L.) Pohl

Bibliography: Tent. Fl. Bohem. 1: 32 (1809)

Year: 1809

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cladium

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: America, Azores, Temp. Eurasia, N. Africa, Australia to SW. Pacific

Description

Swamp sawgrass is a notable plant with the scientific designation Cladium mariscus, a member of the Cyperaceae family. This plant has been documented extensively in the botanical literature, with a prominent reference found in Tentamen Florae Bohemiae, dating back to 1809.

Swamp sawgrass is distinguished by its robust adaptability, flourishing in a myriad of geographical regions including America, the Azores, temperate Eurasia, northern Africa, and extending its reach to areas in Australia and the southwestern Pacific. This extensive distribution highlights its versatile nature and ability to thrive in diverse environmental conditions.

The plant is typically associated with wetland habitats, where it plays a crucial ecological role. Its dense, saw-toothed leaves are characteristic features that have not only influenced its common name but also serve practical functions in its natural settings, supporting local wildlife and contributing to the stability of wetland ecosystems.

Renowned for its durability and ecological importance, swamp sawgrass remains a subject of interest for botanists and environmentalists alike, continuing to be studied for its role in various habitats across the globe.

Common Names

Deu: binsen-schneide, schneide
Dan: hvas avneknippe
Nor: storak, hvasskjæne, myrskjæne, seenskjæne, skjænkonge, tagskjæne
Lav: diza aslape
Nld: galigaan
Fra: marisqua, marisque
Eng: swamp sawgrass, great fen-sedge, fen sedge, saw grass, saw sedge
Swe: ag, gotlandsag
Cym: corsfrwynen, corsfrwynen lem, hesgen y gors, llemfrwynen, llymdreiniog, pibfrwynen
Ita: falasco
En: Swamp sawgrass, Great Fen-Sedge, Fen Sedge, Saw Grass, Saw Sedge, Sawgrass
Ar: شريخ (شُرّيخ)، بطله (بُطِلّه)
Ca: Mansega
Da: Hvas avneknippe
Nl: Galigaan
Fr: Marisqua, Marisque, Cladium des marais
De: Binsen-Schneide, Schneide, Sägeried
He: מכבד הביצות
It: Falasco
Lv: Diza aslape
No: Storak, Hvasskjæne, Myrskjæne, Seenskjæne, Skjænkonge, Tagskjæne
Sv: Ag, Gotlandsag
Cy: Corsfrwynen, Corsfrwynen Lem, Hesgen y Gors, Llemfrwynen, Llymdreiniog, Pibfrwynen

Synonyms

• Schoenus mariscus (L.)
• Mariscus mariscus ((L.) Borbás)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Bahamas (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Belize (native)
• Bermuda (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• California (native)
• Cayman Is. (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Chad (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Corse (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Cuba (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• Dominican Republic (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Finland (native)
• Florida (native)
• France (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Hainan (native)
• Haiti (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Jamaica (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Leeward Is. (native)
• Libya (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Caledonia (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Oman (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Paraguay (native)
• Peru (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Puerto Rico (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Australia (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Texas (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Turks-Caicos Is. (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Victoria (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Australia (native)
• Windward Is. (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Angola (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Maldives (introduced)
• Maluku (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• Nigeria (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• Socotra (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• Sumatera (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Tubuai Is. (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 15, 1998 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2003 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 7, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Geneviève Botti (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2022 by zh jero (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 27, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2020 by Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 28, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2021 by Ionela Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 28, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Françoise CARLE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 27, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2009 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Daniel MATHIEU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2007 by Tela Botanica − Laurent PETIT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2731327)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303489-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl)

Specifications

Growth