As an avid birder and angler, I‘ve slogged through my share of marshy lakeshores and muddy wetlands. And I inevitably disturb the oft-overlooked bulrushes that inhabit these spaces. Their coarse stems nod in the breeze as hidden birds chatter within, beckoning me to pause and appreciate their humble majesty.
The name "bullrush" certainly conjures up an image of strength and vigor. But there‘s far more to this fascinating plant. Let‘s delve into its workings and discover why the emblem of wetlands worldwide earned such a brawny title.
What‘s in a Name?
Bulrushes have gone by many monikers through the centuries. Scattered across literature, you may find mention of reedmace, cat-o‘-nine tails, cattails, bog reeds, corn dogs, or reed grass.
Their scientific name, Typha, traces back to the Greek typhos meaning bulrush or cattail. Of course, they bear no relation to cats or canines!
The species we commonly call the "common bulrush" is known in scientific circles as Typha latifolia. Typha derives from the Greek, while latifolia is Latin for broad-leafed.
There‘s been some debate over whether “cattail” or “bulrush” is the more fitting common name for these plants. Let‘s weigh in on that after exploring why “bullrush” came about.
Anatomy of the Mighty Marsh Denizens
Picture a bottle brush studded with sausages. That‘s your basic bulrush. Their spongy, hollow stems grow up from marsh mud in dense stands like giant green cattails beckoning cats to play.
The stems comprise most of the visible plant, reaching heights of 6 to 9 feet tall in ideal conditions. They emerge from rhizomes – subterranean stems spreading horizontally to colonize an area.
Up top, those brown, sausage-like cylinders are the flower or seed heads. They lengthen to form dense cylinders up to 20 centimeters long and 1 centimeter thick.
Inside those thousands of tiny flowers produce copious amounts of seeds. Three heads on one plant can yield over 300,000 seeds!
The leaves sprout along the base of the stems – long, ribbon-like bands stretching up to 2.5 meters in length. They unfurl like the slats of window blinds surrounding and concealing the rising stems.
A mature stand of bulrush is a sight to behold – waves of green blades dotted with erect, chocolate-brown spires wavering in marsh breezes.
You glimpse snowy egrets nestled within, turtles basking at the feet. It‘s a microcosm of life thriving within the sheltering bosom of the bulrushes.
Historical and Cultural Significance
For millennia, humans across the Northern Hemisphere have harvested bulrushes for their versatile utility. Native Americans traditionally referred to them as "union reeds" for their many unifying uses.
The base of fresh shoots and inner pith taste similar to cucumbers when raw. Cooking them lends an asparagus-like flavor. The roots or rhizomes can likewise be cooked and eaten as a starchy vegetable.
| Nutrient | Bulrush | Asparagus |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 91 kcal | 20 kcal |
| Protein | 1.5 g | 2.2 g |
| Fiber | 1.3 g | 2.1 g |
| Vitamin C | 4% | 12% |
Table: Nutritional value of bulrush versus asparagus per 100 grams
The long stems can be dried and woven into baskets, mats, and even boats. Wrapping the stems in birch bark waterproofs them for buoyant vessels.
Early European settlers stuffed mattresses and pillows with the downy seed fluff. The fluff also makes superb tinder for fire-starting.
In the Bible‘s Book of Exodus, the baby Moses was hidden in a floating papyrus basket and left in the bulrushes along the Nile to escape slaughter. His survival demonstrates the concealing nature within the reeds.
Refuge Among the Reeds
A wide variety of wildlife depends on bulrushes for habitat and nourishment throughout their life cycles. The homogeneity of the erect stems conceals the abundance of species thriving within.
As a birder, I‘m always delighted to flush out a bittern or rail from the dense cover. Marsh wrens build globular nests fastened to the stems. I‘ve spotted the funnel-shaped muskrat houses among the thatch of rhizomes below.
Fish like pike and bass prowl the periphery of bulrush stands for small fry and amphibians. Dragonfly nymphs crawl the submerged stems, eventually emerging to join the dancing swarms above.
Ducks relish bulrush seeds and roots. Grebes and coots nibble the tender white stems. Muskrats munch the entire plants like aquatic beavers.
Even humans head to bulrush marshes in search of bounty. The ample wildfowl draw hunters, while anglers ply the open channels. Trappers seek muskrat and mink drawn to the sheltering reeds.
Clearly bulrushes form the thriving heart of many a wetland ecosystem. Their haven of stems and rhizomes sustains life through the extremes of weather and scarcity.
Nature‘s Water Filters
Wetlands get flush with nutrients from upstream runoff. This fuels the prodigious growth of native plants like bulrushes. In turn, they give back by filtering the water running through their beds.
As water flows through the maze of submerged stems and rhizomes, the bulrushes absorb excess fertilizers and chemicals. This includes nitrogen, phosphorous, insecticides, mercury, and other organic pollutants.
Research on constructed wetlands shows bullrushes remove over 95% of heavy metals from contaminated water. They also trap excess sediments flowing downstream.
Pathogens like E. coli bacteria adhere to the wax-coated stems and break down rather than flowing downstream. Nature‘s own water treatment plants!
Wetlands with flourishing stands of native plants like bulrush are less prone to algal blooms. Their spongy stems also buffer the shore from erosion and flooding.
The Dark Side of Success
As advantageous as native bulrushes can be, some invasive relatives give the family a bad name through their aggressive colonization.
The introduced common reed (Phragmites australis) forms towering, impenetrable stands that engulf wetlands. It displaces native vegetation and chokes out open water habitat.
Aggressive rhizome runners help it outcompete bulrushes and cattails. Phragmites grows over 10 feet tall, forming dense monocultures across entire wetlands.
Land managers fight to control Phragmites and restore diverse native vegetation. This battle reveals the flip side of the bulrush‘s talent for spreading.
Musings on a Misunderstood Plant
During my last paddle through the marsh, I drifted into a stand of towering green stems swaying overhead. They concealed the plunge of a bittern and chitter of marsh wrens within.
A pair of wood ducks exploded from the vegetation as I approached, scolding me for intruding. But they revealed a cozy nest tucked into the sheltering reeds that swayed back to stillness in their absence.
This encounter crystallized the bulrush‘s essence for me. Its coarse robustness supports an intricate world where life hides, feeds, and flourishes.
The name "bullrush" captures the headlong vigor of these plants dominating their wetland domain. But their peaceful shelter and nurturing sustenance give the lie to any notion of aggression.
After learning their many gifts and graces, I vote we resurrect the name “bulrush” in their honor. May these overlooked marsh guardians continue dwelling in their tranquil waterscape.
So next time you spy those cigar-like brown heads above a marsh, slow down and appreciate the diverse tableau they make possible. Listen for rustlings within and breathe deep of nature‘s aqueous scent. We owe much to the steadfast bulrush.
