Juncus rigidus Desf.
أسل، رسل، سلي، سمار، حذف
For people
- Eaten by people
- Unknown
- Toxic to people
- Unknown
For livestock
- Grazed by livestock
- Limited fodder
- Toxic to livestock
- Not toxic
Edibility and safety notes
Not a food plant: the only record of human consumption is a PROTA note that the Tuareg of Niger eat the young shoots, which is not enough to call it edible; the mature stems are tough and are used for weaving mats, not eaten. No poisoning of people or animals is reported. Livestock generally do not graze it, but camels eat it and the Omani field guide rates it good camel grazing.
This guide is a hobby project, not expert advice. Never eat a wild plant, or feed it to animals, on the strength of this page alone. Read the disclaimer
Description
A perennial, grass-like rush growing from a creeping, branched rhizome, forming tufts usually 75-150 cm tall. It has stiff, erect stems with narrow, pointed leaves and produces brownish flowers in summer.
Habitat
Sandy and saline areas on coasts and inland, desert fringes, salt marshes, around pools, seasonally wet depressions, and near wells in arid to semi-arid climates.
Distribution
Native to much of Africa, Mediterranean Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, and western Asia, extending eastward to Pakistan.
Pastoral value
Good grazing for camels. Other domestic animals generally do not graze it because of the tough, stiff stems.
Other uses
Used in Ancient Egypt to make pens for writing on papyrus. The rush is used for weaving mats and fibre for paper manufacture. Seeds are high in amino acids, proteins, oils, and carbohydrates with potential agro-industrial value.
Sources
- الدليل الحقلي المصور للنباتات البرية في سلطنة عُمان (BOOK.pdf p.124)
- POWO — Juncus rigidus Desf. — powo.science.kew.org
- PROTA (Pl@ntUse) — Juncus rigidus — plantuse.plantnet.org(PROTA)
- Flora of Qatar — Juncus rigidus — floraofqatar.com
- eNature Qatar — Rasha (Juncus rigidus) — enature.qa