Saw grass
Cladium mariscus subsp. jamaicense

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A sedge. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. They have rough edges. It grows 1-3 m tall. The stalks are 3 sided. The leaves on the stems are 60-120 cm long by 6-20 mm wide.

There are 3 Cladium species. There are alkaloids in the nutlets.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 100 m above sea level. It grows in the swampy edges of streams. In Guatemala it grows up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Central America, East Africa, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Mozambique, North America, Panama, Paraguay, South America, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten as an emergency food.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Djeca

Synonyms

Cladium jamaicense Crantz;