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Common Name:

General Information

Scirpus affinis is a perennial plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe to the Himalayas of India and Pakistan.

Habitat

Wet and boggy more or less saline places[]. In shallow water; rivers and lake shores, irrigation channels, waste land pools, rice fields in Pakistan[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

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 not in 'Flora Europaea' even though it is said to be native to Europe. However, S. maritimus affinis.(Roth.)T.Norlindii. is mentioned in 'Flora Europaea' and it is quite likely that these two names are one and the same species. 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[].

Edible Uses

Root - raw or cooked[]. Rich in starch. The rhizome is either creeping or with stolons ending in a tuber[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant is used to make roofs and walls of temporary shelters, it is also used as an insulation in walls etc and for weaving such things as mats[].

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[]. 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.