Scirpus maritimus - Seaside Bulrush

Family:	Cyperaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Width:	1
Synonyms:	Bolboschoenus maritimus. (L.)Pallas.
Range:	Found in most regions of the world, including Britain, but absent from the Arctic.

Scirpus maritimus (Seaside Bulrush) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Seaside Bulrush will flower in January to February. the seeds ripen from February to March
The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Seaside Bulrush will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Seaside Bulrush prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Seaside Bulrush should not be planted in shady areas.

Along the seashore, in shallow water of tidal rivers, also in ditches and ponds near the sea, avoiding shady positions[1, 17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any wet to moisture retentive ground, pond margins and shallow water in full sun or shade[200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 3/5
Root - raw or cooked. Rich in starch, it is usually dried and ground into a powder[2, 55, 74, 144]. The roots form tubers at intervals along their length and new plants are formed from these tubers. When first formed, the tubers are white and starchy with a sweet coconut-milk flavour, they become black and woody with age[193]. Tubers can be up to 2.5cm in diameter[193]. Seed - cooked[257]. They can be ground into a powder and used as a mush[257].

• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The root is astringent and diuretic[240]. It is used in the treatment of amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, abdominal pain or tumours for post-partum females, abdominal distension and indigestion[176].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Propagation

Seed - sow in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in a pot standing in 3cm of water. Only just cover the seed with soil[200]. The seed usually germinates fairly quickly. Prick out the plants when large enough to handle and plant out in their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used in weaving and basketry[74, 257]. The leaves have been used to secure the edges of woven mats, as the warp for sandals, as the warps and twining wefts for clothing, to secure the edges of skirts etc[257]. They have been used to make twined mats for the insides of houses[257].

• Basketry - Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.
• Weaving - Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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