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Scirpus americanus
  • American Bulrush

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

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • ?
    Unknown
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Scirpus americanus has 0 edible uses listed
Scirpus americanus has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - raw or cooked[1][2]. 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 - cooked. A nutty flavour[1]. The seed can be ground into a powder, mixed with water, boiled and eaten as a mush[2]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to harvest and utilize.

Pollen

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The leaves, mixed with oil, have been rubbed on a child's head to make the hair grow long and thick[2]. The leaves have been used in making baskets and shopping bags[2]. They have also been woven into hats[2].

Unknown part

Basketry
Hair care
Weaving

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Scirpus americanus.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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[3]. 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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Scirpus americanus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any wet to moisture retentive ground, pond margins and shallow water in full sun or shade[3].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Scirpus americanus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Scirpus americanus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Scirpus americanus
Genus
Scirpus
Family
Cyperaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[2]
Botanic
[4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
?
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Strong wind
  • Maritime exposure
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
0.6 x meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.5 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.6 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.1 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  4. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)


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Facts about "Scirpus americanus"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyCyperaceae +
Belongs to genusScirpus +
Has binomial nameScirpus americanus +
Has common nameAmerican Bulrush +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partPollen +, Root +, Seed + and Stem +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceMaritime exposure + and High wind +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBasketry +, Hair care + and Weaving +
Has mature height0.6 +
Has search namescirpus americanus + and american bulrush +
Has shade toleranceLight shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
Has taxonomy nameScirpus americanus +
Has water requirementsaquatic +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
Tolerates maritime exposureYes +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Tolerates windYes +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Scirpus americanus +, Scirpus americanus +, Scirpus americanus +, Scirpus americanus +, Scirpus americanus +, Scirpus americanus + and Scirpus americanus +