Common Name: Reedmace

General Information

Typha latifolia is a very vigorous, herbaceous perennial plant. Growing from a fast-spreading rhizomatous rootstock, it forms a colony of unbranched leafy stems 150 - 300cm tall. In suitable environments, the plant can form large almost monospecific stands[].
This species has a very wide range of traditional and modern uses. Most parts of it have been used for food, it has various medicinal applications and supplies material for many purposes such as for insulation, thatching and weaving. It is also an excellent protector of the soil in wet habitats and a very productive source of biomass. The plant is also planted to provide wildlife habitats and for wetland restoration It is grown as an ornamental, though it needs to be restrained at the roots in all but the largest areas[].
This species has a very large distribution, has been widely introduced and is tolerant of polluted waters. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].
Typha latifolia is a very invasive plant spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site. This is fine when growing in its native habitat, but the plant can become a serious weeds in managed aquatic systems worldwide, where it can invade canals, ditches, reservoirs, cultivated fields, and farm ponds; it can be a nuisance in recreational lakes; and can reduce biodiversity and displace species more desirable for certain kinds of wildlife[]. It should be introduced to areas outside its native range only with the greatest care, and perhaps not at all[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

Throughout the world from the Arctic to latitude 30° S, including Britain but absent from Africa, S. Asia

Habitat

Shallow water up to 15cm deep in ponds, lakes, ditches, slow-flowing streams etc, succeeding in acid or alkaline conditions[, ]. Margins and shallow water of eutrophic lakes, marshes, rivers, ponds and ditches[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant mainly of the temperate zone, it extends into the subtropics and is also found, mainly at higher elevations, in some tropical areas. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 10 - 25°c, but can tolerate 6 - 30°c[]. Plants are very cold tolerant when dormant, though the young growth can be damaged by frosts. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 300 - 4,000mm[].
Succeeds in sun or part shade[]. A very easily grown plant, succeeding in the boggy margins of ponds or in shallow water up to 15cm deep[]. It succeeds in acid and calcareous soils and requires a less organic-rich soil than the related Typha angustifolia in order to do well[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 7.5, tolerating 3.7 - 8[].
The rhizomes of the vigorous species of Typha contain around 30% - 46% starch. The core of these rhizomes can be ground into a flour. One hectare of plants would yield about 7 tonnes of flour per year. This flour would probably contain about 80 % carbohydrates and around 6% - 8% protein. Since these species occur around the world, the plants are a potential source of food for the world’s' population[].
A very invasive plant spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site, it is not suitable for growing in small areas[].
Seedlings rapidly form clones by means of rhizomes in their first season, flower the second season, and often form very large, persistent, often monospecific stands[].
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.
Provides excellent cover for wild fowl[].

Edible Uses

Rhizomes - raw or cooked[, ]. A sweet flavour[]. Rich in starch, around 30 - 46%, they can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup[]. The rhizome can also be dried and ground into a powder, this powder is rich in protein and can be mixed with wheat flour and then used for making bread, biscuits, muffins etc[, , , ].
The rhizomes at the base of erect shoots are mostly horizontal, unbranched, up to 70 cm long and 5 - 40mm in diameter. They are starchy, firm and scaly[].
The plant is best harvested from late autumn to early spring since it is richest in starch at this time[]. The root contains about 80% carbohydrate (30 - 46% starch) and 6 - 8% protein[].

Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. An asparagus substitute. They taste like cucumber[]. The shoots can still be used when they are up to 50cm long[].

Base of mature stem - raw or cooked[, , ]. It is best to remove the outer part of the stem[, ]. The base of the stem where it attaches to the rhizome can be boiled or roasted like potatoes[]. It is called 'Cossack asparagus'[].

Immature flowering spike - raw, cooked or made into a soup[, , ]. It tastes like sweet corn[].

Seed - raw or cooked[, ]. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize, but has a pleasant nutty taste when roasted[]. The seed can be ground into a flour and used in making cakes etc[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[, ]. The seeds contain about 18 - 20% oil, of which69% is linolenic acid[]. Due to the small size of the seed this is probably not a very worthwhile crop.

Pollen - raw or cooked. The pollen can be used as a protein rich additive to flour when making bread, porridge etc[, , , , ]. It can also be eaten with the young flowers[], which makes it considerably easier to utilize. The pollen is a bright yellow or green colour, and turns pancakes, cookies or biscuits a pretty yellow colour[].
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[]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[].

Medicinal

The leaves are diuretic[]. The leaves have been mixed with oil and used as a poultice on sores[].

The pollen is astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, haemostatic, refrigerant, sedative, suppurative and vulnerary[]. The dried pollen is said to be anticoagulant, but when roasted with charcoal it becomes haemostatic[]. 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[, ]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of tapeworms, diarrhoea and injuries[].

A decoction of the stems has been used in the treatment of whooping cough[].

The roots are diuretic, galactagogue, refrigerant and tonic[]. The roots are pounded into a jelly-like consistency and applied as a poultice to wounds, cuts, boils, sores, carbuncles, inflammations, burns and scalds[, ].

The flowers are used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments including abdominal pain, amenorrhoea, cystitis, dysuria, metrorrhagia and vaginitis[]. The young flower heads are eaten as a treatment for diarrhoea[].

The seed down has been used as a dressing on burns and scalds[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant's extensive root system makes it very good for stabilizing wet banks of rivers, lakes etc[, ].
It can be grown in reed beds and other water purification systems in order to remove various kinds of pollutants from the water and soil. The top growth is removed once or twice during the growing season - it can either be used as a fuel or the materials recovered from it[].

Other Uses

The stems and leaves have many uses. Gathered in the autumn they make a good thatch, being used on roofs, to make walls and floor coverings[, , , , , ].
They can be used in weaving to make items such as mats, chairs, hats and other handicrafts[, , , , , ].
They can be used as a caulking material for barrels, boats etc[].
The pulp of the plant can be converted into rayon[].

The stems can be used to make rush lights. The outer stem is removed except for a small strip about 10mm wide which acts as a spine to keep the stem erect. The stem is then soaked in oil and can be lit and used like a candle[].

The female flowers make an excellent tinder and can be lit from the spark of a flint[].

The plant produces large amounts of biomass, comparable to the most productive agricultural crops.This is a potential source of energy - it can, for example, be used for alcohol manufacture[]. On a domestic level, the stems make an excellent addition to the compost heap or can be dried and used as a source of fuel etc[].

A fibre is obtained from the blossom stem and flowers[, , ].
A fibre obtained from the leaves and stems can be used for making paper[] The leaves are harvested in summer, autumn or winter and are soaked in water for 24 hours prior to cooking. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with soda ash and then beaten in a ball mill for 1½ hours. They make a green or brown paper[].

The hairs of the fruits are used as a stuffing material for pillows, mattresses, toys etc[, , , , ]. They have good buoyancy properties and have been used in life preservers. They also have excellent insulation properties and have been used in construction[, ]. They have been used as a lining for babies nappies[].

The flowering stems can be dried and used for insulation, they also have good buoyancy properties[, ].

The pollen is highly inflammable, it is used in making fireworks etc[].

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.