issg Database: Management and Information Links for Butomus umbellatus

Butomus umbellatus (aquatic plant)

Ecology Distribution Management
Info Impact
Info References
and Links Contacts

         Management Information

Mechanical: Proulx (2000), states that, "Cutting flowering rush below the water surface is an effective method of control. Cutting will not kill the plant but it will decrease the abundance. Multiple cuts may be required throughout the summer as flowering rush grows back from the root. All cut plant parts must be removed from the water. Hand digging can be used to remove isolated plants that are located downstream of larger infestations. Extreme care must be taken to remove all root fragments. Any disturbance to the root system will cause small reproductive structures on the roots to break off and spread to other areas of the waterbody. Therefore, methods such as raking or pulling which disturb the root system, but do not remove it, are not recommended control strategies.
Chemical: It is very difficult to kill flowering rush with herbicides. Herbicides easily wash away from the narrow leaves of this plant. Herbicides are more effective on dry banks or in very shallow water. There is no herbicide that is selective for flowering rush and care must be taken to avoid damage to valuable wetland plants such as cattails."

         Management Resources/Links

1. Champion, P.D.; Clayton, J.S. 2000. Border control for potential aquatic weeds. Stage 1. Weed risk model. Science for Conservation 141. .
        Summary: This report is the first stage in a three-stage development of a Border Control Programme for aquatic plants that have the potential to become ecological weeds in New Zealand.
Available from: http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/sfc141.pdf [Accessed 13 June 2007]
2. Champion, P.D.; Clayton, J.S. 2001. Border control for potential aquatic weeds. Stage 2. Weed risk assessment. Science for Conservation 185. 30 p.
        Summary: This report is the second stage in the development of a Border Control Programme for aquatic plants that have the potential to become ecological weeds in New Zealand. Importers and traders in aquatic plants were surveyed to identify the plant species known or likely to be present in New Zealand. The Aquatic Plant Weed Risk Assessment Model was used to help assess the level of risk posed by these species. The report presents evidence of the various entry pathways and considers the impact that new invasive aquatic weed species may have on vulnerable native aquatic species and communities.
Available from: http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/SFC185.pdf [Accessed 13 June 2007]
3. Delisle, F., C. Lavoie, M. Jean, & D. Lachance. 2003. Reconstructing the spread of invasive plants: taking into account biases associated with herbarium specimens. Journal of Biogeography 30:1033-1042.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
4. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO), 2006. Guidelines for the management of invasive alien plants or potentially invasive alien plants which are intended for import or have been intentionally imported. EPPO Bulletin 36 (3), 417-418.
5. Fewless, G. UNDATED. Butomus umbellatus: flowering rush. Invasive Plants of Wisconsin: Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
Available from: http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/invasive_species/butumb01.htm [Accessed 20 January 2004]
6. Lavoie, C., M. Jean, F. Delisle, & G. Le'tourneau. 2003. Exotic plant species of the St. Lawrence River wetlands: a spatial and historical analysis. Journal of Biogeography 30:537-549.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
7. Plants For A Future, 2004. Butomus umbellatus.
        Summary: A searchable database and resource and information centre for edible and other useful plants.
Available from: http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Butomus+umbellatus [Accessed 20 January 2004]
8. Proulx, N. 2000. Exotic Flowering Rush. Minnesota Sea Grant: Regents of the University of Minnesota.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
Available from: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/exotics/rush.html [Accessed 20 January 2004]
9. USGS-NPWRC (Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center). 1999. Butomus umbellatus L. Aquatic and Wetland Vascular Plants of the Northern Great Plains [Online Database]: 50. Butomaceae, The Flowering Rush Family.
        Summary: Information on description, economic importance, distribution, habitat, history, growth, and impacts and management of species.
Available from: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1999/vascplnt/species/fambutom.htm [Accessed 20 January 2004]
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The Global Invasive Species Database is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. It was developed as part of the global initiative on invasive species led by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) and is supported through partnerships with the National Biological Information Infrastructure, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research and the University of Auckland. Conditions of use.