[permaculture] Reeds and Cattails
Toby Hemenway
toby at patternliteracy.com
Thu Feb 7 23:55:41 EST 2008
I didn't mention that my "reed" bed (I call it a constructed wetland, or
bog garden if the inspector is looking) contains goldstripe bulrush
(Schoenoplectus tabernaemontanae), some Scirpus bulrush, yellow and
Siberian iris, canna lily, and dwarf and micro-dwarf cattails (Typha
minima). Full-size cattails can get 12 feet tall in a nice fertile
greywater system, and I don't have room for that in my urban yard. The
dwarf types are great for home-size systems. I don't actually have reeds.
Toby
http://patternliteracy.com
Kai Vido wrote:
> --- "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj at intrex.net> wrote:
>
>> What are the full Latin and common names for these plants:
>>
>> Juncus, Scirpus and Typha
>>
>
> Juncus= Rush (not Limbaugh)
> Scirpus= Bulrush (common name also applied to other genera)
> Typha= Cattail
>
> More info at:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juncus
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scirpus
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha
>
> Here in inland New Brunswick, zone 3b, we have an abundance of Juncus
> effusus and J. bufonius, Typha latifolia, and several species of
> Scirpus.
>
> Typha (cattail) is particularly noteworthy because nearly every part of
> the plant is edible, not necessarily as daily fare but as a nutritious,
> palatable and widely available "survival food". The abundant (in
> season) pollen has an excellent flavour and the immature flower heads
> are quite good as "corn on the cob". Likewise the first shoots in early
> spring; the roots I've never tried, but they are very starchy and were
> used as flour. A Permaculture plant...?
>
> Bon appetit!
>
> Kai
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