Scirpus validus - River Club-Rush

Family:	Cyperaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Synonyms:	S. tabernaemontani. K.C.Gmel. Schoenoplectus validus. (Vahl.)Löve.
Range:	N. America - all areas except the extreme north.

Scirpus validus (River Club-Rush) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m . It has a hardness rating of 7.
River Club-Rush will flower in January to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

River Club-Rush 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
River Club-Rush prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

River Club-Rush can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Shallow water[43, 62]. Ponds and swamps[235].

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: 2/5
Root - raw or cooked[159, 161, 172, 183]. Rich in starch. The root contains a meagre amount of starch[193]. The sweet roots are eaten raw in mid summer[257]. The bruised young roots, when boiled in water, furnish a sweet syrup[183]. Young shoots - cooked[55, 62, 85, 183]. The tender base of the stem is eaten raw in salads[183, 257]. The pollen is used in soups or mixed with flour and used in making bread[177, 183]. It is rich in protein. Seed[62, 85, 159, 183]. No further details are given but it is probably ground into a powder and used in making bread etc. The seed is small and rather fiddly to harvest and utilize.

• Leaves -
• Pollen -
• 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[152]. The stem pith is haemostatic[257]. A poultice of the stem pith has been placed under a dressing in order to stop wounds bleeding[257].

• 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.
• Haemostatic - Controls internal bleeding.

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 stems are used in weaving and basket making[189, 257]. They are used to make good quality mats for use on the floor, for sleeping on and for making temporary partitions[257]. The stems are pulled off the plant rather than cut to ensure the maximum length of stem[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

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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