Arctic Rush

Arctic Rush is a circumpolar wetland grass closely related to Baltic Rush, distributed across arctic and subarctic tundra and cold montane meadows throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It forms spreading colonies from stout rhizomes in wet, often peaty soils near ponds, stream edges, and alpine seeps. The dark brown flower clusters emerge from the stem sides, appearing in midsummer even at high latitudes. It is an important food and cover plant for waterfowl, shorebirds, and small mammals in remote northern habitats where few other wetland plants survive the harsh climate.