Cyperaceae FAMILY
Schoenoplectus californicus
Schoenoplectus californicus
Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
California bulrush is a vigorous perennial plant forming dense stands of stout stems around 2 metres tall from a vigorous spreading rhizome[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. Little used nowadays, the plant was a major source of material for native peoples for making baskets, weaving etc, and also supplied edible roots and stems.
Habitat & Origin
Origintropical
Native RangeS. America - Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador; C. America - Honduras, El Salvador to Mexico and southern N. America
HabitatBrackish to fresh marshes, shores, often emergent in water; at elevations from sea level to 1,400 metres in North America[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. Shallow water of lake shores, ranging from sea level to about 1,700 metres in Guatemala[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].