Typha laxmannii -

Family:	Typhaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Synonyms:
Range:	S.E. Europe to E. Asia.

Typha laxmannii () is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 4.
The flowers from this plant are monoecious (both sexes are found on the plant but each flower is either male or female) and they are pollinated by Wind

Soil Information

Typha laxmannii will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Typha laxmannii prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Typha laxmannii should not be planted in shady areas.

Lakes, rivers, ditches and wet places in Turkey[93].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Is a pond plant
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Grow in a rich soil in boggy pond margins or shallow water to 15cm deep[1, 200]. Succeeds in sun or part shade[200]. A very invasive plant spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site, it is not suitable for growing in small areas[200]. 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 wildlife.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 4/5
Roots - raw or cooked[2, 105]. 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[183]. Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc. Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked. An asparagus substitute. Base of mature stem - raw or cooked. It is best to remove the outer part of the stem. Young flowering stem - raw, cooked or made into a soup. It tastes like sweet corn. 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[183]. 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[9]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[K]. Flowering stem - cooked. Tastes like sweet corn.

• Flowers -
• Leaves -
• Pollen -
• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
The stamens and pollen are used as an astringent and styptic[240].

• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Styptic - An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.

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.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The stems have many uses, gathered in the autumn they make a good thatch, can be used in making paper, can be woven into mats, chairs, hats etc. They are a good source of biomass, making an excellent addition to the compost heap or used as a source of fuel etc. A fibre obtained from the leaves can be used for making paper[189] 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[189]. The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows etc. They have good insulating and buoyancy properties and have also been used as a wound dressing and a lining for babies nappies.. The stems can be used to make rush lights. The outer skin is removed except for a small strip, or spine, running the entire length to give stability. The stem is then soaked in oil. A fibre is obtained from the blossom stem and flowers. The pollen is highly inflammable, it is used in making fireworks etc.

• Biomass - Provides a large quantity of plant material that can be converted into fuel etc.
• Insulation - Providing insulation against extremes of temperature, sound or electricity.
• Miscellany - A rag-bag of items that are difficult to categorise.
• Paper - Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.
• Soil stabilization - Plants that can be grown in places such as sand dunes in order to prevent erosion by wind, water or other agents.
• Stuffing - Used in making soft toys, mattresses, pillows etc.
• Thatching - Used for making thatched roofs.
• Weaving - Items such as grass and palm leaves that are woven together for making mats, baskets etc. See also Basket making and Fibre.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of Turkey.
Davis. P. H.
Author: Davis. P. H.
Rating:
Publisher : Not for the casual reader, this is an immense work in many volumes. Some details of plant uses and habitats.
Date of Publication : 1965

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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