Schoenoplectus lacustris grows up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) tall, with stems 5–15 millimetres (1⁄4–5⁄8 in) thick.

[3] Most of the leaves of S. lacustris are reduced to bladeless sheaths around the stem, but leaf blades up to 100 centimetres (39 in) long can be formed under water.

[3] Schoenoplectus lacustris is widespread in Europe, albeit rare in the far north,[5] and extends eastwards into Asia as far as Mongolia.

[1] It is also found in a number of Mediterranean sites in North Africa,[5] and has been introduced to Haiti.

hippolyti is restricted to an area reaching from the Caucasus to the mountains of Central Asia.