389 Scirpus maritimus L.

Syn.: Bolboschoenus maritimus (L.) Palla

This species forms together with closely related taxa a complex which needs critical investigation (Hultén, Circumpol. I, p. 180). The pecies occurs at the coasts and on more or less saline marshes inland in Eurasia (except the arctic-subarctic regions) and adjacent parts of Africa. It occurs occasionally as an introduced plant in eastern N. America and S. America, furthermore, possibly as a native plant, in parts of C. and S. Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Most of the population S of a line through S. Europe is distinguished as var. tuberosus (Desf.). In N. Arnerica some closely related taxa occur, viz. var. fernaldi (Bickn.) Beetle and S. paludosus Nels. var. atlanticus Fem. in the eastern part, S. paludosus Nels. in the western half of U.S.A., and S. robustus Pursh in the south. Furthermore, S. affinis Roth (or S. maritimus subsp. affinis [Roth] T. Norl.) and S. yagara Ohwi occur mainly in W. C. Asia and E. Asia, respectively. All these taxa have together an almost circumpolar distribution (Hultén, Circumpol. I, p. 180 and map 170).