Glaucous Bulrush
Scirpus validus subsp. creber
Family: Cyperaceae
What it is like
A sedge. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. They keep growing from year to year. They grow 3.5 m tall. The roots or rhizomes are tough and scaly brown. The stems are rounded and soft. They are not branched. The flowers are in spikes near the stem tips. Each flower has several stalks in clusters. The clusters are up to 1 cm long. They are flat and have overlapping scales. The seeds are hard and flat. They are 5 mm long.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is best in partly shaded areas. It needs moist soil.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America, USA
How it is used for food
The young shoots and roots are eaten cooked They are also preserved in rice bran. The tender base of the stem is eaten raw in salads. The pollen is used in soups and bread. The bruised young roots boiled in water give a sweet syrup. The seeds can be eaten.
Edible parts
Leaves, pollen, root, seeds
How it is grown
It can be grown from seed.