Bulrush, Greater reedmace
Typha latifolia

Family: Typhaceae

What it is like

A herb. It is a reed which grows in water. They spread by underground rhizomes. The leaves are bluish-green and like straps. They can be 2-2.5 m long and 2.5 cm wide. The flower heads form a compact cylinder. This is 15-23 cm long and 2.5 cm across. The upper part is male and yellow. The lower part is female and stays dark brown. These are not separated. The seeds have hairs attached to them.

Chemical composition (root): Protein - 6%. Fat = 0.29%. Carbohydrate = 17.5% (including 15.4% starch). Ash = 2.54%. There are 10 Typha species.

Where it is found

It grows in tropical and temperate places. Deccan. It grows in swamps. It needs rich silty soils and an open, sunny position. It is hardy to frost. It grows between sea level and 1,950 m above sea level. It can grow in salty soils. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. Tasmanian Herbarium. in Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Arctic, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, China, Congo, Czech Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe (country/location of origin), Gabon, Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Libya, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Turkmenistan, Uganda, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The root is peeled, then dried in the sun and ground into flour before cooking. It can be used for breads, cookies, biscuits and muffins. The young white shoots near the root are cut off, washed, boiled then eaten with oil and salt. They can be made into pickles. The seeds are eaten on the Deccan in India. The young green flower spikes are boiled and eaten like corn on the cob. They are eaten with butter. They can be scraped from the cob and baked in a casserole. The pollen can be mixed with wheat flour in pancakes and muffin recipes.

The tender shoots are considered a delicacy. They are sold for banquets.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves, seeds, root, rhizome, stems, flowers, pollen

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division. It can also be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Brad-dunkjevle, Cattail, Common cattail, Cossack asparagus, Lisdodde, Pat, Reedmace, Rogoz velelisni, Shikima, širokolistni rogoz, Toiby

Synonyms

Typha capensis (Rohrb.) N. E. Br.; Typha australis auct. nov Schum. & Thonn.;