Cyperaceae FAMILY

Eleocharis dulcis

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Eleocharis dulcis is a tufted, perennial rush-like plant with stems 50 - 200cm tall. The plant has short rhizomes and elongated stolons, most of these terminated by a globose tuber. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is widely cultivated for its edible tubers in China, there are some named varieties[ 183 Title Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Publication Author Facciola. S. Publisher Kampong Publications Year 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 Description Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world. , 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeTropical and subtropical areas of Africa; eastern Asia from Pakistan and China eastwards to thePhilippines, New Guinea, Australia, western Pacific

HabitatMarshy land and shallow water[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The edges of seasonal swamps in Australia[ 193 Title Wild Food Plants of Australia. Publication Author Low. T. Publisher Angus and Robertson. Year 1989 ISBN 0-207-14383-8 Description Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast ].