Sea club-rush, Seaside bulrush
Bolboschoenus maritimus

Family: Cyperaceae

What it is like

A herb or sedge. It has underground stems or rhizomes. It keeps growing from year to year. There is a small round tuber at the end of the rhizomes. The stalks are 25-50 cm tall and they are 3 angled. The leaves are narrow and 2-6 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean plant. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. It occurs in wet areas on salty soils near coasts. It grows in the Sahara. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central Asia, Chile, Eswatini, Europe, Hungary, India, Indochina, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Senegal, Slovenia, South America, Southern Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The starchy root tubers can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable or used to extract starch. The central stem can be processed into flour.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Root, tuber, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Azlaf, Csatak, Obmorska srpica, Smar, Zsiku, Zsiok, Zsioka

Synonyms

Reigera maritima (L.) Opiz; Schoenoplectus maritimus (L.) Lye; Scirpus maritimus L.