Habitat and Range
Bullrush grows sporadically throughout the Sierra in wet mountain meadows and streambanks below 9000 ft. Other Scirpus species can grow up to 12,000 ft. There are at least 8 species that grow in the Sierra Nevada. S. microcarpus blooms May to August.
Physical Description
Bullrush is a perennial sedge that grows from 2 to almost 5 feet tall and has flat, angled leaves 3-7 mm wide. The inflorescence is a loose compound umbel with brownish florets in terminal clusters. Each of the 3-12 flowers in each cluster is approximately 5-10 mm in length. The smooth, angled fruit is generally less than 2 mm.
Food Uses
This plant has many of the same uses as cattail. You can eat the corm, or thickened stem-base, raw or cooked and the tuberous growth on other species is edible but rather tough uncooked. The pollen of all species can be gathered and added to flour or pacake batters. Some species of bulrush (S. acutus) have round stems which have a softer inner core that can be eaten. The seeds of most species can be eaten and have a delicious nutty flavor.
Medicinal Uses
The plant was once valued for its diuretic and astringent properties but most species have more use as food.
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