Freshwater Wetlands/ Three-square

COMMON NAME: Three Square

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Olney Three Square, Chairmaker’s, Three Square Bulrush

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Scripus pungens 

FAMILY: Cyperaceae

COMMUNITY: Freshwater Wetlands

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: to 7 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Late June to September

FRUITING TIME: Late June to September

DISTRIBUTION: Nova Scotia to Florida ~ Statewide in New Jersey, common along coastal strip and upland streams

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Erect herbaceous plant ~ Rhizomes long and hard ~ Stems stout and sharply triangular with deeply concave sides ~ No apparent leaves ~ Flower inconspicuous in 5 to 12 sessile (no stalk) budlike spikelets covered by brown scales, near top of stem

GENERAL INFORMATION: The sedge or rush family, Cyperaceae, includes eight genera and approximately three hundred species of grass-like plants.  In ancient times rushes were used to make roofs, writing instruments, bedding, caulking for ships and some were used to make arrows.  A more poetic use was for musical pipes.  In the Middle Ages rushes were used to cover cold stone floors and were swept away when dirty. The presence of members of this family of plants indicates damp soil or low meadows. The following rhythm may help distinguish rushes from the similar appearing sedges and grasses: Sedges have edges, Rushes are round, Grasses have joints from the tips to the ground. The stems of sedges such as Three Square are triangular.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.