Herb: Flatsedge


Latin name: Cyperus schweinitzii


Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge Family)



Edible parts of Flatsedge:

Tuber - raw or cooked.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial


Height:
75 cm
(2 feet)

Habitat of the herb:

Sands, beaches and barrens. Sandy soils, especially along the sides of lakes and streams.

Other uses of Flatsedge:

The leaves are used in basketry and for weaving hats, matting etc.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - surface sow in the spring and keep the compost moist. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 6 weeks at 18°C. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for their first winter in a greenhouse and plant them out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation of Flatsedge:

Sands, beaches and barrens. Sandy soils, especially along the sides of lakes and streams.

Medicinal use of the herb:

None known

Known hazards of Cyperus schweinitzii:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.