Bulrushes

Also known as Reed Mace.

• Perennial.
• Excellent plant for purifying pond water.
• Grows 5 - 7 feet (1.5 - 2.1 metres) tall. Leave can reach 1" (2.5 cm) thick.
• More suited to larger ponds.
• Likes shallow water up to 6" (15 cm) deep.
• Plant approximately 2 feet (60 cm) apart.
• Likes a sunny position.
• Will tolerate slow-flowing water.
• Wind pollinated.
• Flowers June to August.
• Resistant to flooding.
• Excellent for encouraging wildlife.
• Edible flowers.

• Culinary Uses
• Roots can be eaten (like potatoes).
• Roots are sometimes used to make flour.
• Late Spring with the leaves are young they can be eaten
• The sheath can be eaten like corn on the cob.
• Pollencan be used as a thickener like cornflower.
• Seeds can be roasted.

• Medicinal Uses
• The leaves are diuretic.
• The leaves and roots can be used on sores.
• The roots can be used to treat cuts, boils, burns and inflammation.
• Pollen is an astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, haemostatic, refrigerant, sedative, suppurative and vulnerary.
• Dried pollen can be used as an anticoagulant.
• an be used to treat kidney stones, haemorrhage, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding and cancer of the lymphatic system.
• Can be used to treattapeworms and diarrhoea.
• The flowers can be used to treat abdominal pain, amenorrhoea, cystitis, dysuria, metrorrhagia and vaginitis.
• The stems have been used to treat whooping cough.

Disclaimer
As with all alternative medicines and plants with purported medicinal benefits it is important to inform your health care providers that you are using them; this helps to ensure safe and coordinated care. We can accept no liability for any side effect or contingency from any allergy or any other cause or harm that may arise. If in doubt please do consult a medical practitioner before using.Avoid if you are pregnant.