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Common Name: Water WhirlGrass

General Information

Catabrosa aquatica is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.70 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain but absent in Spain and Portugal, N. and W. Asia, Algeria.

Habitat

Shallow streams and ditches, at the muddy margins of ponds and in wet sandy places near the sea all over Britain[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have no information on this, though judging by the plants native habitat it requires a wet soil and also succeeds in shallow water. It will also probably require a fairly sunny position[].

Edible Uses

Seed[]. No more information is given, but the seed is very small and fiddly to use. It would probably have been used as piñole or have been ground into a powder and used as a mush, as a thickener in soups and stews, or in making cakes, bread etc[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the plant has been used as a stimulant and tonic[].

Other Uses

The plant has been burnt as an incense[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in the spring in a pot standing in shallow water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
Division in the spring. The divisions can be planted direct into their permanent positions.