Typha orientalis, commonly known as bulrush, cumbungi,[2] or raupō, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Typha. It is native to Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, China and the Russian Far East (Sakhalin and Primorye).[3][4]

Typha orientalis
Leaves and flower spikes of Typha orientalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Typhaceae
Genus: Typha
Species:
T. orientalis
Binomial name
Typha orientalis
Synonyms
  • Typha japonica Miq.
  • Typha latifolia var. orientalis (C. Presl) Rohrb.
  • Typha muelleri Rohrb.
  • Typha orientalis var. brunnea Skvortsov in Baranov & Skvortsov
  • Typha shuttleworthii subsp. orientalis (C. Presl) Graebn.
  • Typha shuttleworthii var. orientalis (C. Presl) Rohrb.

T. orientalis is a wetland plant that grows on the edges of ponds, lakes, salt marshes, and slow flowing rivers and streams.

Known as raupō in New Zealand,[5] the plant was quite useful to Māori. The rhizomes were cooked and eaten, while the flowers were baked into cakes.[6] The leaves were used for roofs and walls and occasionally for canoe sails,[7] as well as a material for making kites.[8] Māori introduced the plant to the Chatham Islands.[3]

 
A traditional Māori whare (house)

References

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  1. ^ Zhuang, X. (2011). "Typha orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T168629A6524306. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T168629A6524306.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Typha orientalis". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Distribution".
  4. ^ Flora of China, v 23 p 161.
  5. ^ Johnson, Peter (24 Sep 2007). "Wetlands – Reeds, rushes, sedges and low growers". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  6. ^ Lehnebach, Carlos A.; Regnault, Claire; Rice, Rebecca; Awa, Isaac Te; Yates, Rachel A. (2023-11-01). Flora: Celebrating our Botanical World. Te Papa Press. ISBN 978-1-9911509-1-2.
  7. ^ Lawrie Metcalf (1998). The Cultivation of New Zealand Native Grasses. Auckland, New Zealand: Random House. p. 48.
  8. ^ Neich, Roger (1996). "New Zealand Maori Barkcloth and Barkcloth Beaters". Records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. 33: 111–158. ISSN 0067-0464. JSTOR 42906461. Wikidata Q58677501.