WHEN is a bullrush not a bullrush? The answer is when it is a reed mace, which I regard as one of the most fascinating of all our British waterside plants.
The scientific name for this species is Typha latifolia and the reason why there has been confusion is because of a painting showing Moses in his basket.
This was done by Alma Tadema and the artist got his botany wrong. The true bullrush is named Scirpus lacustris. It is this species which is used to make the seats of chairs.
In contrast the reed mace has no use apart from in flower arranging. Its sausage shaped chocolate brown spikes are seen at their best in late summer and autumn. Eventually the spike bursts to release thousands of cotton-like fruits which blow about in the wind and help the reed mace to spread rapidly from one area of still water to another.
Another of the old names for this plant is the False Bullrush, which may well explain the confusion.
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