Typha orientalis -

Family:	Typhaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	3
Synonyms:	T. japonica.
Range:	E. Asia - Japan to Australia.

Typha orientalis () is a Perennial which grows to a height of 3m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 0.
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 orientalis 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 orientalis prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Typha orientalis should not be planted in shady areas.

Ponds and riversides in lowland areas all over Japan[58].

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]. Plants can be very invasive, spreading freely at the roots when in a suitable site[200]. Provides excellent cover for wildlife.

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 4/5
Roots - raw or cooked[105, 153]. They are usually peeled before use[173]. The roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup. They can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours. Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc. The root contains a lot of fibre[193]. One way to remove this fibre is to peel lengths of the root that are about 20 - 25cm long, place them by a fire for a short while to dry and then twist and loosen the fibres when the starch of the root can be shaken out[193]. Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked[105, 173, 178, 193]. 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[105]. 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[153, 173]. 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: 3/5
The pollen is astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, haemostatic and [176, 178]. The dried pollen is said to be anticoagulant, but when roasted with charcoal it becomes haemostatic[238]. 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[222, 238]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[238]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of tapeworms, diarrhoea and injuries[238].

• Anticoagulant - Removes blood clots.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Galactogogue - Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother.
• Haemostatic - Controls internal bleeding.
• Tonic - Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

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[153, 173, 178]. 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]. A fibre is obtained from the blossom stem and flowers. A fibre obtained from the roots can be used for making string[193]. The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows etc[173]. 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. 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.
• Fibre - Used for making cloth, rope, paper 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

RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
F. Chittendon.
Author: F. Chittendon.
Rating:
Publisher : Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
Date of Publication : 1951

Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Ohwi. G.
Author: Ohwi. G.
Rating:
Publisher : The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1965

Flora of the Sydney Region
Carolin. R. & Tindale. M.
Author: Carolin. R. & Tindale. M.
Rating:
Publisher : Concise flora with little beyond an extensive key, species descriptions, very brief habitat description.
Date of Publication : 1993

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