Scientific name: Typha spp.

Common names: Cumbungi, bullrush

Family: Typhaceae

Origin: 

Native of Australia.

Habit:

Perennial reed-like plants with an erect habit up to 3 m tall.

Habitat:

Native plants sometimes considered weeds in waterways where there is still or gently flowing freshwater. Major weeds of irrigation channels and rice.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are cylindrical and up to 3 m long.  Leaf blades can be over 1 m long and 3 cm wide.  The sheaths of the uppermost 1 or 2 leaves are slightly lobed at the base of leaf blades.

Flowers and fruit

The flowers are borne in dense cylindrical spikes with male flowers at the tip and female flowers lower, usually with a gap between them.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Perennial reed-like plants found in still or slow moving fresh water.  The inflorescence is densely compacted, cylindrical, and pale cinnamon brown to dark chestnut brown in colour. The positioning of the male and female flowers is distinctive and can be used to differentiate Typha domingensis from the similar Typha orientalis.  In the later the male and female parts of the spike can be continuous or with a gap up to 2 cm long. In the former the gap between male and female parts is up to 5.5 cm in size. The colour and thickness of the spike are also noteworthy since Typha orientalis has darker brown spikes that are thicker.

Noxious status:

All Typha spp. are declared noxious in Tasmania and New South Wales.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. (1992). Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Anonymous. (2000). Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories. Prepared by the National Weeds Strategy Executive Committee.