Fuirena umbellata

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A sedge. It is a herb that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1 m tall. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 20 cm long. They have 5 veins. The lower leaves are only a sheath with no blade. The flower spikelets are hairy.

There are about 30 Fuirena species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas of permanent shallow water. It can be in mangroves. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, East Africa, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indochina, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South America, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tubers, root, ash - salt

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Burume-combe, Camatao, Cameta, Gove, Macook, Mangatchaca, Mela, Ococo, Pama, Vahobonoka, Vendramalomana

Synonyms

Fuirena seriata C. B. Clarke; Scirpus umbellatus (Rottb.) Kuntze;