Scirpus americanus - Pers. American Bulrush
Woodlife People :: Food :: Plant Food
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Scirpus americanus - Pers. American Bulrush
Author | Pers. | Botanical references | 17 |
Family | Cyperaceae | Genus | Scirpus |
Synonyms | Schoenoplectus americanus - (Pers.)Volkart. ex Schinz.&R.Keller. Scirpus pungens - Vahl. | ||
Known Hazards | None known | ||
Range | S. W. Europe, including Britain, south and east from the Netherlands to Belgium, Germany and Italy. | ||
Habitat | A very local pant in Britain, growing in the margins of ponds near the sea in Jersey and possibly Lancashire[17]. | ||
Edibility Rating | 2 (1-5) | Medicinal Rating | 0 (1-5) |
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 0.6m. |
ripen from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have
both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist or wet soil and can grow in water.
The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Habitats
Pond; Bog Garden;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Pollen; Root; Seed; Stem.
Root - raw or cooked[172, 257]. Rich in starch.
Stem. Peeled and eaten raw or cooked[172].
Stem base - raw or cooked[172].
Pollen[172]. Rich in protein, it can be added to flour when making
bread, cakes etc.
Seed - cooked. A nutty flavour[172]. The seed can be ground into a
powder, mixed with water, boiled and eaten as a mush[257]. The seed is
rather small and fiddly to harvest and utilize.
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants.
Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None known
Other Uses
Basketry; Hair; Weaving.
The leaves, mixed with oil, have been rubbed on a child's head to make the hair grow long and thick[257].
The leaves have been used in making baskets and shopping bags[257]. They have also been woven into hats[257].
Cultivation details
Succeeds in any wet to moisture retentive ground, pond margins and shallow water in full sun or shade[200].
Propagation
Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in
3cm of water. Only just cover the seed with soil[200]. The seed usually
germinates fairly quickly. Prick out the plants when large enough to
handle and plant out in their permanent positions in early summer.
Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out
direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up
the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in
a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the
summer.
Links
References
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[172] Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. 0
A nice guide to some useful plants in that area.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Very
comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent
bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to
further information. Not for the casual reader.
(C) Plants For A Future, 1996-2008.
Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales.
Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567,
HTML version prepared by Rich Morris
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Woodlife People :: Food :: Plant Food
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