Practical
Plants

Cyperus longus

Galingale

a perennial evergreen member of the Cyperus genus in the family Cyperaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Cyperus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
1.2 m
Spread
2 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Tuber - used as a spice in soups, pies and sweets[14][7].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The root is an aromatic tonic[12]. It was at one time considered to be a good stomachic and useful in the first stages of dropsy, but it has now fallen into disuse[12][10].

Product or use
Aromatic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

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

The leaves are used in basketry and for weaving hats, matting etc[2]. The root and stem have the scent of violets and are used in perfumery[12][13][15][11]. The aroma becomes more pronounced when the root has been dried and left to age[11]. A fibre obtained from the plant is used in paper making[2].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
Britain and the Mediterranean region north to Lake Geneva.
Habitat
By water in ditches and marshy places[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 7+
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 - surface sow in the spring and keep the compost moist[5]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 18°c[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for their first winter in a greenhouse and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Division is simple at almost any time of the year, so long as the roots are not allowed to become dry. Plant them out straight into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a moist sandy loam[16][3]. Succeeds in any good garden soil so long as it does not dry out[4], it also grows well in up to 30cm of water[8]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[8]. A very ornamental plant[1], though it can spread freely at the roots when well-suited[9]. Galingale was one of the favourite spices of the medieval kitchen and was an ingredient of 'pokerounce', a kind of medieval cinnamon toast[7]. It is rarely used at present. Both the root and the stem have a sweet moss-like perfume, resembling that of the violet but not so pure. The aroma becomes more fragrant with age[11].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0802707699

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  4. Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9

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  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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

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  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  9. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

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  10. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

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  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  14. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

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

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  16. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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