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Scirpus fluviatilis - (Torr.)A.Gray.

Common Name River Bulrush
Family Cyperaceae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Fresh or brackish marshes and quiet water along streams and lakes, sometimes in water up to 1 metre deep, in western and eastern N. America[60, 235].
Range E. Asia to N. America and Australia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Wet Soil Water Plants Semi-shade Full sun
Scirpus fluviatilis River Bulrush


Elaine Haug @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Scirpus fluviatilis River Bulrush
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Scirpus fluviatilis is a PERENNIAL growing to 2 m (6ft 7in). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root  Stem
Edible Uses:

The stems are peeled and eaten[177]. Root - raw or cooked. The roots form tubers at intervals along their length and new plants are formed from these tubers. When first formed, the tubers are white and starchy with a sweet coconut-milk flavour, they become black and woody with age[193]. Tubers can be up to 3cm in diameter[193].

References   More on Edible Uses

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.
Contraceptive

This plant was ranked 11th in a survey of 250 potential antifertility plants in China[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry

The roots have been used to form the black part of the basket design[257]. The roots were stained by burying them in the mud with ashes until a black colour was obtained[257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Guizhou Sheng, Jiangsu Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng), Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: Indochina NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec, Ontario, New Brunswick (south), Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, California, Utah) AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria), New Zealand

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Scirpus acutusHard Stem BulrushPerennial2.0 - FLMHSNMWeWa312
Scirpus affinis Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWeWa202
Scirpus americanusAmerican BulrushPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWeWa202
Scirpus caldwellii Perennial1.5 -  LMHSNM00 
Scirpus cyperinusWoolly Grass Bulrush, WoolgrassPerennial1.5 6-9  LMHSNMWeWa101
Scirpus lacustrisBulrushPerennial2.5 4-8  LMHSNMWeWa312
Scirpus litoralisBulrushPerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNM00 
Scirpus maritimusSeaside Bulrush. Cosmopolitan BulrushPerennial1.0 5-9  LMHNMWeWa312
Scirpus medianus Perennial2.0 -  LMHSNM00 
Scirpus microcarpusPanicled BulrushPerennial1.5 -  LMHSNMWeWa311
Scirpus nevadensisNevada BulrushPerennial0.3 -  LMHSNMWeWa201
Scirpus paludosusBayonet GrassPerennial0.5 -  LMHSNMWeWa20 
Scirpus subterminalisWater BulrushPerennial0.6 -  LMHSNMWeWa20 
Scirpus ternatus Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNMWeWa10 
Scirpus validusRiver Club-RushPerennial1.5 6-9  LMHSNMWeWa211
Scirpus validus creberSoft-Stem BulrushPerennial1.5 6-9  LMHSNMWeWa211

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Torr.)A.Gray.

Botanical References

60235

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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