Glyceria fluitans

Glyceria fluitans (syns Festuca fluitans, Poa fluitans, Panicularia fluitans), known as floating sweet-grass and water mannagrass, is a species of perennial grass in the genus Glyceria native to Europe, the Mediterranean region and Western Asia and occurring in wet areas such as ditches, riverbanks and ponds. It has a creeping rootstock, a thick stem which rises to one metre. The leaves are long, narrow and pale green, rough on both sides, often folded at the keel which lies on the surface of the water. The species epithet fluitans is Latin for "floating".

Description

An erect grass. It has rhizomes and keeps growing from year to year. It has stems that creep underwater. The flowering stems are upright.

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Edible Uses

The seeds can be eaten raw or cooked and have a sweetish taste. They were considered a delicacy in parts of Europe and were traded commercially well into the 20th century. Flour made from the seed produces a bread said to be little inferior to wheat bread, and can also be used as a thickener in soups, where it imparts a sweet, delicate flavour. Unfortunately the seed is very small, making the plant relatively unproductive.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are used in porridge and soups. They should be soaked until they are swollen then baked or boiled. The flour can be used for bread. The seeds are also chewed.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

A temperate plant. It grows in northern temperate regions. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Belgium, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, USA, Yugoslavia,

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse in a pot standing in 3–5cm of water, surface-sowing or barely covering the seed. Germination should occur within 3 weeks. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in early summer. Where sufficient seed is available, it can also be sown directly outdoors in situ in mid to late spring. Division in spring is straightforward; larger clumps can go directly into permanent positions, though smaller clumps are better potted up and grown on in a cold frame until rooting well before planting out in spring.

Other Uses

The leaves have been burnt as an incense.

Other Information

It is cultivated in Poland.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Floating meadow grass, Floating sweet grass, Mannik, Mayna, Poland manna

References (19)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 239
• Curtis, W.M., & Morris, D.I., 1994, The Student's Flora of Tasmania. Part 4B St David's Park Publishing, Tasmania, p 229
• Denes, A., et al, 2012, Wild plants used for food by Hungarian ethnic groups living in the Carpathian Basin. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae 81 (4): 381-396
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 176
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 330

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