Bulrush
(Scientific Name: Scirpus
acutus)
Description:
A tall, dark green water plant with round, pithy, leafless stems
growing from thick, scaly rootstocks. Stiff, smooth stems 3-9 feet
tall have clusters of brown, bristly flower spikes at the top.
Habitat:
Grows in dense patches in mud or shallow water. Widespread in Canada
and the United States, usually at lower elevations.
Uses: Rootstocks are available in every
season of the year and can be eaten raw, cooked, or dried and
pounded int flour. Young root shoots which appear in the fall are
best. When young plants first appear in the spring, the tender
shoots can be eaten either raw or cooked. Seeds can be harvested in
the fall and ground into meal. Because of its availability during
all seasons of the year, the bulrush is an excellent source of
emergency food.
