This is an archived copy of this article, recovered after a server failure in January 2022.

Some links may be broken, and editing is disabled. We are working to bring back full functionality.

Typha angustifolia
  • Small Reed Mace

a perennial member of the Typha genus in the family Typhaceae.

Typha angustifolia (habitus) 1.jpg
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Earth stabiliser
    Earth stabiliser
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 3
    Zone 3
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Typha angustifolia has 7 edible uses listed
Typha angustifolia has 7 material uses listed
Typha angustifolia has 5 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Roots - raw or cooked[1][2][3][4]. They can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup[5]. The roots can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours[6]. Rich in protein, this powder is used to make biscuits etc[5].

Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked[7][1][4][8][5]. An asparagus substitute[6]. Base of mature stem - raw or cooked[6]. It is best to remove the outer part of the stem[6]. Young flowering stem - raw, cooked or made into a soup[9][4][5]. It tastes like sweet corn. Seed - cooked[5]. The seed is very small and fiddly to harvest, but it has a pleasant nutty taste when roasted[1]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[9]. Due to the small size of the seed this is probably not a very worthwhile crop.

Pollen - raw or cooked. A protein rich additive to flour used in making bread, porridge etc[1][10][5]. It can also be eaten with the young flowers[9], which makes it considerably easier to utilize[K]. 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[11]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[K].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Pollen

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The stems and leaves have many uses, they make a good thatch, can be used in making paper, can be woven into mats, chairs, hats etc[2][3][12][13][4]. They are a good source of biomass, making an excellent addition to the compost heap or used as a source of fuel etc.

The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows etc[3][12][8]. They have good insulating and buoyancy properties[14]. The female flowers make an excellent tinder and can be lit from the spark of a flint[15]. The pollen is highly inflammable and is used in making fireworks[16].

This plants extensive root system makes it very good for stabilizing wet banks of rivers, lakes etc[17].

Unknown part

Biomass
Insulation
Paper
Stuffing
Thatching
Tinder
Weaving

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The pollen is diuretic, emmenagogue and haemostatic[18]. The dried pollen is said to be anticoagulant, but when roasted with charcoal it becomes haemostatic[19]. It is used internally in the treatment of kidney stones, internal haemorrhage of almost any kind, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, post-partum pains, abscesses and cancer of the lymphatic system[20][19][21]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[19]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of tapeworms, diarrhoea and injuries[19]. An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of gravel[22].

Unknown part

Anticoagulant
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Haemostatic
Lithontripic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

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.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Typha angustifolia. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

A very easily grown plant, it grows in boggy pond margins or in shallow water up to 15cm deep[23]. It requires a rich soil if it is to do well[23]. Succeeds in sun or part shade.

A very invasive plant spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site, it is not suitable for growing in small areas. Unless restrained by some means, such as a large bottomless container, the plant will soon completely take over a site and will grow into the pond, gradually filling it in. This species will often form an almost complete monoculture in boggy soil.

The dense growth provides excellent cover for water fowl[24].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Typha angustifolia. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Typha angustifolia.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Typha angustifolia
Genus
Typha
Family
Typhaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Medicinal uses
[18][19][20][21][22]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3][12][13][4][8][14][15][16][17]
Botanic
[23][17]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Flowers (Unknown use)
  • Leaves (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Pollen (Unknown use)
  • Root (Unknown use)
  • Seed (Unknown use)
  • Stem (Unknown use)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Biomass)
  • Unknown part (Insulation)
  • Unknown part (Paper)
  • Unknown part (Stuffing)
  • Unknown part (Thatching)
  • Unknown part (Tinder)
  • Unknown part (Weaving)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Anticoagulant)
  • Unknown part (Diuretic)
  • Unknown part (Emmenagogue)
  • Unknown part (Haemostatic)
  • Unknown part (Lithontripic)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Earth stabiliser
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
3
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    3 x 3 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Wind
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.3 Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-33545-3 (1975-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim (1959-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. ISBN 0-911010-54-8 (1962-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.45.55.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.4 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (1982-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press ISBN 0-253-28925-4 (1977-00-00)
    9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
    11. ? 11.011.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
    12. ? 12.012.112.2 Schery. R. W. Plants for Man. ()
    13. ? 13.013.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    14. ? 14.014.1 Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press (1952-00-00)
    15. ? 15.015.1 Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press ISBN 63-7093 (1963-00-00)
    16. ? 16.016.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
    17. ? 17.017.117.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    18. ? 18.018.1 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
    19. ? 19.019.119.219.319.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    20. ? 20.020.1 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    21. ? 21.021.1 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    22. ? 22.022.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    23. ? 23.023.123.2 Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (1962-00-00)
    24. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)


    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Typha_angustifolia&oldid=81449"