Eleocharis palustris - (L.)Roem.&Schult.
(L.)Roem.&Schult.
Common Spike-Rush, Common spikerush
gbif· cc-by-nc
Steven Kurniawidjaja
gbif· cc-by-nc
Steven Kurniawidjaja
gbif· cc-by-nc
Steven Kurniawidjaja
Description
Eleocharis palustris is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.
Edible Uses
Sap eaten. No more information is given.
Distribution
An almost cosmopolitan plant, found in most regions of the world including Britain.
Where It Grows
TEMPERATE ASIA: Yemen, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation (Kurile Islands, Primorye, Amur, Kamcatskij kraj), China (Heilongjiang Sheng, Jilin Sheng, Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu), Korea, Japan (Hokkaidô, Honshu, Kyushu) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India (north), Nepal NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon, Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation (Kalmykija, Respublika, Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Portugal (Azores, Madeira Islands), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
Cultivation
Prefers slightly acid conditions, growing well in shallow water or muddy ground. A very variable species, it is divided into a number of sub-species by some botanists.
Propagation
Seed - surface sow in the spring in pots standing in shallow water. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring.
Other Uses
Bedding Stuffing. The plant has been used as bedding, for stuffing pillows and to make a pad for sitting on.
