Marsh club rush, River bulrush, Kukuraho, Purua grass
Bolboschoenus fluviatilis

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A sedge or rush which keeps growing from year to year. It has a thick underground stem or rhizome. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. It is creeping and forms tubers. The leaves are long and tapering. They are 30-50 cm long and 4-15 mm wide at the base. The stem is 3 sided. It is 1-1.5 m tall. It has leaves along its length. The flowering head is open and has leaf like bracts underneath it. These are longer than the flowering head. The spikelets have many flowers. They are oval and 2.5 cm long. The flower has 6-9 rays with the outer ones larger and getting smaller towards the centre. The flowers contain both sexes. The nut is 3 sided and 4 mm long.

There are about 16 Bolboschoenus species. The Cyperaceae or sedges are rush or grass like herbs. They grow in moist places.

Where it is found

Mostly temperate. It grows in shallow water along creeks. It can grow away from water in high rainfall areas. It does not spread into deep water.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Japan, Korea, New Zealand, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The underground tubers are eaten.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, stems

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Bolboschoenus maritimus subsp. fluviatilis (Torr.) A. Love & D. Love; Schoenoplectus fluviatilis (Torr.) M. T. Strong; Scirpus maritimus var. fluviatilis Torr.; Scirpus fluviatilis (Torr.) A Gray; Scirpus perviridis V. J. Cook;