reed mace

("Reed mace," the English call cattails, in honor of this dark sausage at the business end of the stalk.) Beneath the brown velvet of the seed capsules, a white kapok of cottony seed-parachutes packs the core.

Both types go Under a variety of common names: flags, rushes, Cossack asparagus, reed mace, cat-o'-nine-tails and punks.

These tiny birds frequent reed beds and feed on the seed heads of reed mace.

The idea is to create a series of wetland environments along the length of the river, planted with common reed mace and bullrushes.

Reed mace (often referred to bulrush) found in ponds, lakes and marshy areas is another useful plant due to its high starch content.