Eelat
Scleria biflora

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A grassy looking annual sedge. The stems are triangle shaped in cross section. It grows 30-60 cm high. The leaves are on the stems. There is a 3 angled tube shaped sheath. The leaves are 3-5 mm wide. The flowering shoots have 2 or 3 branches with many spikelets.

There are about 220 Scleria species. There are 60 Scleria species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow in rice fields and in swampy soils. It suits moist shady places. It can grow from sea level to 2,040 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young plants are eaten with rice either raw or steamed.

Edible parts

Plant

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Scleria biflora subsp. ferruginea J. Kern; Scleria ferruginea Ohwi [Illegitimate]; Scleria propinqua Steud.; Scleria steudeliana Miq.;