Kingdom Plantae Family Typhaceae Scientific name Typha orientalis Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Typha Higher classification Cattail | |
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Similar Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Typhaceae, Typha angustifolia, Cattail, Pygmy water‑lily | ||
Typha orientalis, commonly known as bulrush, bullrush, cumbungi in Australia, or raupō in New Zealand, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Typha. It can be found in Australia (all 6 states plus Northern Territory and Norfolk Island), New Zealand including the Chatham Islands and the Kermadec Islands), Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, China and the Russian Far East (Sakhalin and Primorye).
T. orientalis is a wetland plant that grows on the edges of ponds, lakes and slow flowing rivers and streams.
Use
Raupō was quite useful to Māori. The rhizomes were cooked and eaten, while the flowers were baked into cakes. The leaves were used for roofs and walls and occasionally for canoe sails. Māori introduced raupō to the Chatham Islands.
