Mosquito Bulrush - Scirpus hattorianus

Scirpus hattorianus, also know as Mosquito Bulrush or Early Dark-Green Bulrush, is a perennial native to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Fortunately it is named because its flowers resemble a mosquito (and because its habitat is sometimes mosquito-rich), not because it attracts mosquitos. It is a resident of wet to seasonally wet habitats in full sun to dappled shade, including shores, marshes, low spots, and wood edges. It reproduces from July to September with a loose spray of flowers. Sometimes buds will sprout on the flower clusters late in the season, making a bright green and russet fireworks display. Reportedly 2 to 5 feet in height, but I have not observed it much over 2 feet.
 
I couldn't find specific faunal information for this species, but bulrushes are the host plants for a variety of moth caterpillars, the leaves and other parts feed beetles and grasshoppers, and all those insects feed birts. Birds, particularly wetland species, also eat the seed heads. This is a great texture plant for a rain garden, pond edge, or in seasonally wet areas.