Scleria scrobiculata

Nees & Meyen ex Nees

Nut rush

Cyperaceae Edible: Tips, Fruit 78 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A sedge. These grow in clumps and have grass like leaves and solid stalks. The stalks are 1-2.5 m tall and 4-10 mm thick. They are 3 sided. The leaves are in rings of 2-5 in the middle of the stalk. The sheaths are 4-6 cm long. The leaf blade is 40 cm long by 1 cm wide. The flowering shoots are branched panicles with 2-3 spikelets in a cluster. The nutlets are white and round and 2-3 mm long. They are slightly 3 sided.

Edible Uses

The young tops and fruit are eaten.

Traditional Uses

The young tops and fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. In south China it grows in broad-leaved evergreen forests between 100-300 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam,

Synonyms

Scleria approximata Hassk.and others

Also Known As

Tafatolu

References (4)

Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 561
Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 46
Parham, B. E. V., 1972, Plants of Samoa. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Information Series. No. 85 p 115
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew