Scirpus paludosus - Bayonet Grass

Family:	Cyperaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Synonyms:	S. campestris. non Roth.
Range:	N. America - British Columbia to Quebec, south to New Jersey, Oregon and Mexico.

Scirpus paludosus (Bayonet Grass) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m . It has a hardness rating of 0.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Bayonet Grass 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
Bayonet Grass prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bayonet Grass can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Alkaline marshes and on shores[43]. Salt marshes[235].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of this country. This species is very closely rlated to S. maritimus and is included as a form of that species by some botanists[274]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. 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: 2/5
Root - raw or cooked. Rich in starch, they can be dried and ground into a powder then mixed with cereal flours for making bread and other items[46, 61, 85, 161, 183, 274]. Pollen. Rich in protein, it can be mixed with flour and used for making bread etc[61, 105, 183].

• Pollen -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

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

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

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