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Scheuchzeria palustris — pod-grass

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Facts

Pod-grass inhabits bogs and fens across much of northern North America, Europe and Asia. It is protected in some New England states. Its long, rope-like rhizomes are sometimes found mixed in with peat in bags of commercial peatmoss.

Habitat

Bogs, fens

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Characteristics

Habitat
wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Leaf arrangement
  • alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
  • basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant
Leaf blade shape
  • the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
  • the leaf blade is roughly circular, as wide as long
Leaf blade length
50–300 mm
Flower petal color
  • green to brown
  • yellow
Flower petal length
2–3 mm
Petal fusion
the perianth parts are separate
Inflorescence type
the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)
Ovary position
the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
Fruit type (specific)
the fruit is a follicle (has one ovary that splits along one side to release the seeds)
Fruit length
6–8 mm
Show all characteristics

  • Clonal plantlets

    Axillary bulblets
    there are no bulblets being produced in axils

  • Flowers

    Bulblets replace flowers
    there are no bulblets where the flowers are located
    Carpels fused
    • the carpel is solitary or (if 2 or more) the carpels are not fused to one another
    • the carpels are fused (the number of carpels equals the number of locules)
    Flower petal color
    • green to brown
    • yellow
    Flower petal length
    2–3 mm
    Flower symmetry
    there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)
    Fringed petal edges
    the petals are not fringed
    Hairs on flower stalk
    the flower stalk has no hairs on it
    Inflorescence type
    the inflorescence is a raceme (a long unbranched stem with stalked flowers growing along it)
    Marks on petals
    there are no noticeable marks on the petals
    Nectar spur
    the flower has no nectar spurs
    Number of carpels
    3–6
    Number of pistils
    3
    Number of styles
    0
    Ovary position
    the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
    Petal appearance
    • the petals are green and/or leafy in texture
    • the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)
    Petal fusion
    the perianth parts are separate
    Sepal appearance
    • the sepals resemble leaves in color and texture
    • the sepals resemble petals in color and texture
    Sepal length
    2–3 mm
    Spathe
    the plant does not have a spathe
    Spathe form
    NA
    Stamen number
    6
    Stamen position relative to petals
    NA
    Stamens fused
    the stamens are not fused to one another
    Stamens fused outwards
    the stamens are not fused to the petals or tepals
    Style petal-like
    the style is not broad and flattened like a petal
    Tepals
    the petals and sepals are similar in size and color

  • Fruits or seeds

    Berry color
    NA
    Fruit compartments
    there is only one locule in the fruit
    Fruit length
    6–8 mm
    Fruit type (general)
    the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe
    Fruit type (specific)
    the fruit is a follicle (has one ovary that splits along one side to release the seeds)
    Other markings on berry
    NA

  • Glands or sap

    Sap
    the sap is clear and watery

  • Growth form

    Lifespan
    the plant lives more than two years
    Underground organs
    the plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)

  • Leaves

    Leaf arrangement
    • alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
    • basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant
    Leaf blade basal lobes
    the leaf blades do not have basal lobes
    Leaf blade base
    the leaf has no stalk
    Leaf blade base shape
    the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
    Leaf blade cross-section
    the leaf blade is round or semicircular
    Leaf blade faces
    both surfaces of the leaf blade are exposed
    Leaf blade form
    Fully-formed (i.e., expanded), +/- green leaf blades are found somewhere on the plant
    Leaf blade length
    50–300 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
    • the leaf blade is roughly circular, as wide as long
    Leaf blade surface colors
    the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color
    Leaf blade veins
    the lateral veins are parallel or slightly arched in the direction of the tip
    Leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets
    Stipule twining
    NA
    Stipules
    there are no stipules on this plant

  • Place

    Habitat
    wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • bogs
    • fens

  • Scent

    Plant odor
    the leaves have no particular smell

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Flowering stem growth form
    the flowering stem is held upright
    Flowering stem leaves
    there is at least one fully-formed leaf on the flowering stem

Wetland status

Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

Connecticut
extremely rare (S-rank: S1)
Massachusetts
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
New Hampshire
uncommon (S-rank: S3), W (code: W)
Rhode Island
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), state endangered (code: SE)
Vermont
rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)

ssp. americana

Connecticut
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
Maine
unranked (S-rank: SNR)

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

1.  Scheuchzeria palustris L. N

pod-grass. Scheuchzeria americana (Fern.) G.N. Jones; S. palustris L. ssp. americana (Fern.) Hultén; S. palustris L. var. americana Fern. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Bogs, fens.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Triglochin maritima:
each carpel with 1 ovule, inflorescence without bracts, and leaves without terminal pores (vs. S. palustris, with each carpel with 2 ovules, inflorescence bracteates, and each leaf with a terminal pore).

Synonyms

  • Scheuchzeria americana (Fern.) G.N. Jones
  • Scheuchzeria palustris L. ssp. americana (Fern.) Hultén
  • Scheuchzeria palustris L. var. americana Fern.

Family

Scheuchzeriaceae

Genus

Scheuchzeria