Scleria terrestris

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A small sedge plant. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a woody underground stem or rhizome. The shoots are in tufts. They can be 60-200 cm tall. They are 3-6 mm thick. The leaves are 4-20 mm wide. The flower panicles are compound and in groups of 4. They are 10-50 cm long. The nut is oval and 3 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet places along the edges of forests. In Taiwan it is at low altitudes. It grows up to 450 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ellarukki

Synonyms

Zizania terrestris L.; amd several others