Lesser bulrush, Narrow-leaved cattail
Typha angustifolia

Family: Typhaceae

What it is like

An erect marsh plant. It keeps growing from year to year. It is slender and grows about 1.2 m high. The leaves are narrow. They are 1 cm wide. They sheath the base of the stem. The flowers are small. They are crowded into a long, brown, cylindrical spike. This is 1.3-2 cm thick. The male and female flowers are separated by a gap of about 2.5 cm.

There are 10-13 Typha species.

Where it is found

A temperate to tropical plant. It grows in wetlands. In Chile it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zone 9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chile, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Georgia, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Russia, San Marino, SE Asia, Somalia, South America, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young shoots are boiled and also eaten raw. The rootstock is boiled and eaten like potato. They can also be macerated and boiled to make a sweet drink. The flour can be used for cakes. The pith near the sprouting new stem is roasted or boiled. The young flower spikes are eaten raw, cooked or made into syrup. The pollen of male catkins can be used to make bread or porridge. The seeds have been roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Rhizome, root, shoots, vegetable, flowers, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Batro, Batru, Chihubane, Deniruve, Enea, Espadana, Herba ekor kucing berdaun sempit, Landim, Lesser reedmace, Narrow-leaved cattail, Paja de estara, Pan-kanis, Pat, Pith grass, Ram ban, Rogoz uskolisni, Shin-mwe-lon, Small bulrush, Tabebuia, Taboa, Tabouda, Totora, Tuturaco, Umaojsa, Vato, Vatros, Yah-toop

Synonyms

Massula angustifolia (L.) Dulac; Typha angustifolia var. several; Typha elatior Boenn.; Typha foveolata Pobed. Typha media C. C. Gmel.; Typha minor Curtis; Typha pontica Klokov f. & Krasnova;