Scirpus subterminalis
a perennial member of the Scirpus genus in the family Cyperaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cyperaceae
- Genus
- Scirpus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - raw or cooked[1]. Rich in starch. Stem. Peeled and eaten raw or cooked[1]. Stem base - raw or cooked[1]. Pollen[1]. Rich in protein, it can be added to flour when making bread, cakes etc. Seed. A nutty flavour[1]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to harvest and utilize.
- Plant part
- Pollen
- Plant part
- Root
- Plant part
- Seed
- Plant part
- Stem
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Newfoundland to Alaska, south to South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Idaho.
- Habitat
- Quite shallow water from 15 - 60cm deep[4].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- aquatic
- 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 - 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[2]. 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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any wet to moisture retentive ground, pond margins and shallow water in full sun or shade[2].
References
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00