Reedmace plant

[annie2]

Hi,

I am reserarching management for reedmace (which I know is different from bulrushes) and I found that there are 2 types, the greater and the lesser reedmace.

Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between these 2 types of reedmace please?

Also does any one know of any good websites for researching the management of reedmace?

Many thanks
Annie2

[The Woodman]

Hi Annie

You might get a lead from the Freshwater Biological Association, see their website www.fba.org.uk

There's a Phragmites restoration project on Windermere but not Reedmace management.

I assist with a very small scale 5yr plan on a small pond near me owned by the FSC, this is a local plan and involves nothing more than hand pulling to free up some open water.

Good luck.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by annie2

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how to tell the difference between these 2 types of reedmace please?
Many thanks
Annie2

Hi Annie. Yes we have two species of Typha.
Typha latifolia. Bulrush / Great Reedmace / False Bulrush, all common names are acceptable. By far the more common species.
And-
Typha angustifolia. Lesser Bulrush / Lesser Reedmace. Less common, mainly in England only.

The easiest way to tell the species apart when in flower is by the distinct gap between male and female parts of the flower in Typha angustifolia. And a female flower which is much narrower and a paler brown than Typha latifolia.

So just to re-cap.
Typha latifolia. Broad leaves 8-25mm. Large, 18-30mm Dark-brown sausage-shaped female flower.
No gap between male and female parts of the flower.
Typha angustifolia. Narrow leaves, 3-6mm. Narrow light-brown female flower separated from a longer thinner male flower by a 3-8cm gap.
Dorts.

[Johnny Redgate]

I have seen Lesser Reedmace on far fewer occasions than Greater. One of the most interesting places was an old railway borrow pit in East Yorkshire where almost the entire water surface was covered by a floating raft of Lesser Reedmace and sphagnum moss (fimbriatum if I remember correctly). A bit like a schwingmor (?) but surely not more than 150yrs old. I've not seen anything quite like it before or since, though I did once work on a site with naturally developed floating islands in power ststaion fly ash lagoons.

[Dorts]

Yes, Lesser Reedmace is far less frequent. I have found it prefers shallow water on neutral to slightly acid, sandy soils. Possibly more common near the coast.
Dorts.

[Johnny81]

Here is a picture of the two:
T. latifolia

T. angustifolia, showing the clear gap between male and female flowers


Incidently I found this T. angustifolia in a shallow pool within a limestone quarry, and the only place I personally have found it so far.