Bullrush, Reedmace
Typha capensis

Family: Typhaceae

What it is like

A herb. The leaves are soft and dark green. The leaves are 1 m above the water and a few cm wide. The stems are taller than the leaves. They can be 2 m above the water. The flowers are on spikes at the ends of the stalks. Male flowers are light brown. Female flowers are dark brown. The fruit are very small and have one seed and many hairs.

There are 10 Typha species.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in water. It grows along streams and on the edges of dams

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The roots and young shoots are eaten. The rhizomes are dried and the husks removed then crushed to release the starch which is cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Shoots, rhizomes, root, flowers, stems

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by dividing the large clumps.

It is fast growing and spreads by rhizomes.

Its other names

Local names

Libhuma, Matjiesgoed, Musama, Papkuil

Synonyms

Typha latifolia subsp. capensis Rohrb.;