Typha orientalis aka Lesser Reed Mace

Typha orientalis is a wetland plant that lives for years. It belongs to the Typhaceae family. People call it broadleaf cumbungi or broad-leaved bulrush. Its native range spans Mongolia, eastern Asia, the Philippines and Australasia. It grows in cold temperate regions and the tropics. Wild plants live beside ponds, lakes and slow rivers. They also grow in swamps and water channels. Useful Tropical Plants lists its conservation status as Least Concern.

Plants reach about 3–10 feet [1–3 metres] tall. Their upright, leafy stems have no branches. They grow from spreading rhizomes, which are underground stems. These help the plant form dense groups called colonies. In good sites, it can crowd out most other plants. It grows fast, so a small patch can spread far. This strong root spread is its main garden problem. Useful Tropical Plants says to restrain roots except in very large sites.

Plants For A Future gives May to August for flowering. That source says seeds ripen from June to September. Each plant has male and female flowers in separate groups. Wind moves pollen from one flower to the next. The sources give few facts about leaf or fruit shape. They do say the stems are leafy and upright. The plant gives wildlife cover around wet ground.

Grow it in rich, wet soil at pond edges. It also grows in shallow water to 6 inches [0.15 metres] deep. Sand, loam and clay can all suit it. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral or mildly alkaline. The growing notes point to sun as the clearest choice. Plants For A Future also notes success in part shade. The sources give no precise hardiness zone. It suits bog gardens and plantings that give wildlife a home. It also suits work to restore wetlands. Yet it can clog managed waters and leave fewer plant kinds.

People use many parts of this plant for food. These include roots, shoots, stems, leaves, flowers, pollen and seeds. People can peel the roots, then eat them raw or cooked. Root starch can serve as flour or thicken food. People use stems for thatch, paper and woven goods. They also use leaf fibre to make paper. Other uses include insulation, compost, fuel and holding wet soil. Both plant-use sources report no known hazards. This does not prove safety for every use or animal. Pollen has traditional uses as medicine. But the evidence warns against prescribing it during pregnancy.