Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT
Native Plant Species
Iris
Gumplant
Huckleberry
Ithurieal’s Spear
Seaweed
Jimson Weed
Lupine
Mugwort
Redbud
Redwood
Rush
Salmon Berry
Seaweed
Sedge
Showy Indian Clover
Silverweed
Soaproot
Strawberry
Sunflower
Tobacco
Toyon
Valley oak
Wax Myrtle
Willow
Yarrow
Yerba Buena
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Species Description:
California bulrush, a perennial herbaceous plant, is distinguished by long triangular stems from 5 to 8 feet tall. The leaves are slender, v-shaped blades that are sheathed around the long stem. The flowers are arranged in a spikelet and resemble orange-brown scales.
Habitat Description:
Bulrushes are often dominant emergent vegetation found in marshes and wetlands. California bulrush is abundant in freshwater marshes along the coast
Native American Use:
- Bulrush is similar to the cattail in edibility, although it is purportedly sweeter. Young shoots coming up in the spring can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Bulrush pollen is eaten as flour in bread, mush or pancakes. Later in the season, the seeds can be beaten off into baskets or pails, ground into a similar meal and used as flour.
- The large rhizomes are eaten raw or cooked; sometimes they were dried in the sun, then pounded into a kind of flour.
- The rhizome (underground stem) is used for the black element in basket design.
- Tules and cattails were used as insulating thatch for structures, matting, bedding, and roofing materials.
- Shredded tule was used for baby diapers, bedding, and menstrual padding.
- Women made skirts from tule.
Harvest Season: Summer and Fall 
Coast Miwok Name: looko (big) sappa (small)
Southern Pomo: siw’is
C A L I F O R N I A B U L R U S H - Scientific Name: Schoenoplectus californicus
( Other names are tule and black root tule. )
