Typhaceae

1 gen., temp. and trop.

Typha L.

Bull-rush or Cumbungi

Bull-rush or Cumbungi

3 species in Aust. (2 native, 1 naturalized); all states and territoriesTall, erect reed-like emergent aquatic perennials 1–3 m high, with stout rhizomes, monoecious. Leaves distichous, linear, 5–20 mm wide, thick spongy, semicylindrical to flat, with long sheaths; the upper ones often auriculate. Flowers unisexual, regular, crowded into dense cylindrical spike-like inflorescences; upper part of the spike with male flowers; lower part with female flowers often separated from the males by a short bare interval. Male flowers with 3 stamens, interspersed with hair-like bracts. Female flowers fertile or sterile, solitary or several on very short lateral branches; fertile female flowers with a solitary carpel surrounded by hairs, at first sessile but later raised on a gynophore, usually subtended by a small delicate bract. Fruit a small 1-seeded follicle surrounded by silky hairs.