Practical
Plants

Typha minima

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Typhaceae
Genus
Typha
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

The following notes are for other members of this genus, but they probably also apply to this species:- Roots - raw or cooked. They can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup. The roots can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours. Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc. Seed - cooked. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize, but has a pleasant nutty taste when roasted. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Due to the small size of the seed this is probably not a very worthwhile crop[K]. Pollen - raw or cooked. A protein rich additive to flour used in making bread, porridge etc. It can also be eaten with the young flowers, which makes it considerably easier to utilize. The pollen can be harvested by placing the flowering stem over a wide but shallow container and then gently tapping the stem and brushing the pollen off with a fine brush[5]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[K].

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Pollen
Plant part
Root
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The pollen is diuretic, emmenagogue, haemostatic[1]. The dried pollen is said to be anticoagulant, but when roasted with charcoal it becomes haemostatic[4]. It is used internally in the treatment of kidney stones, haemorrhage, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, post-partum pains, abscesses and cancer of the lymphatic system[3][4]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[4]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of tapeworms, diarrhoea and injuries[4].

Product or use
Anticoagulant
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Haemostatic

Material uses

None known

Environment

Range
Europe to W. Asia.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a pot and stand it in 3cm of water. Pot up the young seedlings as soon as possible and, as the plants develop, increase the depth of water. Plant out in summer. Division in spring. Very easy, harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 30cm tall, making sure there is at least some root attached, and plant them out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation

Grows in boggy pond margins or shallow water. Requires a rich soil if it is to do well. Succeeds in sun or part shade.

References

  1. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  3. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  4. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  5. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

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