Great Reedmace

Great Reedmace
A cosmopolitan, aquatic genus of 10-15 species of stout, rhizomatous, reed-like perennials. Typha latifolia and its variegated cultivar are grown as ornamentals in ponds and lakes for their imposing foliage and decorative, brown seedheads, which are dried for floral arrangements. Although commonly known as "bulrush", T. latifolia is quite different from the plant referred to by this name in the Bible, which was Cyperus papyrus. Typha angustifolia, T. bungeana, T. davidiana, T. minima, and T. orientalis are used interchangeably with T. latifolia as the Chinese drug pu huang. Usually, the drug consists of the pollen, which contains flavanoids, volatile oil, and hormonal compounds, known as ecdysteroids, that can be metabolized to either estrogenic or androgenic substances. In S. Africa, the rhizomes of T. capensis (syn. T latifolia subsp. capensis) are used for reproductive problems in both men and women, suggesting that hormonal substances are present elsewhere in the plant. Typha is the original Greek name for this plant, used by Theophrastus.

Giant perennial with a branched, long rhizome and linear leaves, to 2m (6ft) long. Minute beige flowers appear in a long-stalked, cylindrical spike, with males above the females, followed by dark brown seed heads that persist through winter, breaking up to release wind-dispersed seeds in spring.

Common Name:

Great Reedmace

Other Names:

Cattail

Botanical Name:

Typha latifolia

Genus:

Typha

Family:

Typhaceae

Native Location:

Europe, Asia, N Africa, and North America

Cultivation:

Wet soi or shallow water in sun or shade. Subject to statuatory control as a weed in parts of Australia.

Propagation:

By seed sown in spring (species only); by division in spring.

Harvest:

Pollen is gently shaken from flower spikes when blooming, and dreid for use in decoctions, pastes, powders, and suppositories.

Variations:

Variegata
Haas white striped leaves.
Width: 0.9-1.2m (3-4ft).

Height:

2.5m (8ft)

Width:

Indefinite

Hardiness:

Z2-9

Parts Used:

Pollen (pu huang)

Properties:

A sweet, acrid herb that is diuretic, controls bleeding, improves the circulation, promotes healing, and stimulates the uterus. Dried pollen is anti-coagulant; roasted with charcoal, it becomes hemostatic.

Medicinal Uses:

Internally for hemorrhage, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding postpartum pains, angina, and cancer of the lymphatic system. Externally for tapeworms, diarrhea, and injuries. May be combined with honey for abscesses and with powdered cuttlefish bone for bleeding injuries.

Culinary Uses:

Unripe flower spikes can be cooked as a vegetable. Pollen may be used to enrich flour for baking. Young shoots and inner stems, known as "Cossack asparagus", are eaten raw or cooked.

Economic Uses:

Pollen is highly flammable and was used in the manufacture of fireworks.

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