Flowering-rush is found at water margins in lakes, ditches and canals. It grows to a height of 1.5m and produces single clusters or umbels of flowers in July and August. The flowers (16-25mm across) have 3 pale to deep-pink, dark-veined petals and 3 smaller, narrower sepals. They are borne on stalks of uneven lengths on leafless stems, with leaf-like bracts below the clusters. The grey-green leaves are long, slender, triangular in cross-section and all arise from the base of the plant. It grows on creeping underground stems or rhizomes and is a native perennial which is not commonly found except in northern areas, Munster and along the river Shannon. It belongs to the Butomaceae or Flowering-rush family.
I first saw and photographed Flowering-rush in Co Donegal while on a holiday near Maghery in the late 1970’s. I have never seen it since. The photograph was taken on old print film and I would love to find this species again and take a newer photo of it. It deserves better.
If you are satisfied you have correctly identified this plant, please submit your sighting to the National Biodiversity Data Centre
