2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Typhus (Latin Typha) - a tall ornamental-leaved plant from the Rogose family. Its second name is cattail.
Description
Typhoid is a spectacular marsh or aquatic perennial herb, equipped with long and very thick densely branching creeping rhizomes. The height of erect and also thick stems of typhus can reach up to three meters, and in some varieties of this plant - even up to six meters! Moreover, the bases of these stems are always bulbous thickened.
The ground sessile leaves of typhus are always directed only upward, while the length of these linear leaves in all cases exceeds the height of the stems, and their width ranges from 0.9 to 2 centimeters. The long bases of these leaves allow them to cover the stems not only very tightly, but also to a very impressive height, which is why they often give the impression of stem leaves.
Typhus flowers are collected in the apical inflorescences-buds of a cylindrical shape, while the female flowers are invariably located in the lower part of the inflorescences, and the male ones - in the upper part.
Where grows
Typhoid is most often seen growing in swamps, as well as on the shores of lakes or rivers. Typhoid is especially widespread in the southern part of Eurasia, as well as North America. And in the European part of Russia, nineteen species of this plant are currently found.
Usage
Typhus leaves have long ago gained fame as an excellent and very valuable floral material. Their highest plasticity and flexibility allow them to be used to create fanciful weaves and the most complex handicrafts. The dense and incredibly elastic texture of these leaves, as well as their spectacular matte smooth surface, are considered no less valuable in floristry. Plus, these extremely decorative leaves are very easy to use! Typhus leaves in the form of weaves or bunches look especially impressive!
Typhus is also excellent in water, the most important thing is not to forget to cut its stems before putting it into the water at an acute angle. In this form, the plant will easily last up to two weeks! And typhus is also able to bring a truly indescribable flavor to almost any arrangement, invariably giving them originality and originality!
But typhoid is especially often used to decorate the shores of reservoirs - with its help, you can make even the most dull landscape picturesque!
By the way, in ancient times, very original baskets, curtains, mats, mats and ropes were woven from typhus leaves. And at the end of summer, when the oblong dark-brown typhus spikes, popularly called oranges (most likely from the word "dirty"), ripened, the locals willingly amused themselves with them around the fire. However, the resourceful people found bizarre typhus cobs and a lot of other uses - for example, with the help of just one penknife, they, with a slight movement of the hand, turned into funny figures depicting various birds, animals or gnomes. True, for these purposes it was possible to use only plants cut on the same day, as long as their ears did not have time to dry.
Also typhus from time immemorial has been used to make flour (while flour from it began to be obtained thirty thousand years ago, that is, long before the beginning of making flour from a wide variety of grain crops!), And from dried and carefully crushed typhus roots they prepare a very good substitute for coffee.
Growing and caring
Typhoid will feel best in well-lit areas, on swampy, acidic, but at the same time quite rich and sometimes alkaline soils. And last but not least, this plant boasts impressive resistance to fluctuations in water levels!
