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Herbs & Plants

Butomus umbellatus

Botanical Name : : Butomus umbellatus
Family: Butomaceae
Genus: Butomus
Species: B. umbellatus
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Alismatales
Synonyms: Butomus umbellatus f. vallisneriifolius (Sagorski) Gluck

Common Name : Flowering rush or Grass rush.butome , ombelle (French), , fl, teau (French), grassy rush, jonc fleuri (French), water gladiolus

Habitat :
Native range: Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Known introduced range: North America
:Butomus umbellatus is  mostly found on shores of lakes, ponds and riverbanks, and it is intolerant of salt or brackish water.

Description:
Butomus umbellatus is a perennial, aquatic herb that grows from a fleshy rhizome on freshwater shorelines. It can be found in water several meters deep, and its flowering stem can reach up to 1 m (3.3 ft.) above the surface of the water. The 0.6-0.9 m (2-3 ft.) long ensiform leaves can be erect or floating on the water’s surface. The leaves are three angled, fleshy and have twisted ends. The plants flower from the summer to the fall depending on the depth of the water. The flowers are arranged in a bracted umbel. The bracts are purple-tinged, and numerous flowers are on long, slender ascending pedicels. The petals and sepals are 3-merous and are 2-2.5 cm (0.8-1 in.) in diameter. They can be white to deep pink, to purplish brown in color. The submersed form of this plant does not have flowers, and has narrow, long thin leaves. The flowers produce beaked fruits that are dark brown, 1 cm (0.4 in.) long, and split at maturity to release the seeds…....CLICK & SEE  THE PICTURES

Cultivation :
Requires a sunny position. A plant of wet habitats, it succeeds in wet soils and in water up to 30cm deep. A very ornamental plant . The flowers have a scent of bitter almonds.

Propagation:
Seed – best surface-sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe, it usually germinates in the spring. The seed quickly loses its vitality if it is not kept moist[200]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a tray of water in the cold frame, planting them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring . Very easy, larger clumps can be planted direct into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are well rooted before planting them out in the summer.

Edible Uses:  Butomus umbellatus  tuber can be cooked. It should be peeled and the rootlets removed. The root can also be dried and ground into a powder; it can then be used as a thickener in soups etc, or be added to cereal flours when making bread. It contains more than 50% starch .

Medicinal Uses:

In Europe, the rhizomes and seeds were thought to have medicinal properties. The cooling nature of the flowers are applied to fresh wounds, impostumes and other hot humors (Culpeper)

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://nbii-nin.ciesin.columbia.edu/ipane/icat/browse.do?specieId=16
http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?fr=1&si=610
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BUUM&photoID=buum_001_ahp.tif
http://digedibles.com/database/plants.php?Butomus+umbellatus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butomus

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Butomus-umbellatus-flower.jpg

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