Practical
Plants

Cladium mariscus

Saw Grass

a perennial member of the Cladium genus in the family Cyperaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cladium
Life cycle
perennial
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
3 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The young shoots may be edible[2].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The stems are used in thatching[5]. The roots have been used to make small baskets[4].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Thatching

Environment

Range
Widely distributed in the warmer and damper parts of both hemispheres, including Britain.
Habitat
Reed swamps and fens, often forming dense pure stands, usually on neutral or alkaline soils[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
high
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in 2cm of water[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[3].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any wet or moisture-retentive soil in full sun or partial shade[3].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  5. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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