The bulrush is also known as Great Reed Mace. Our first bulrush came into flower at the end of July, but now we have half a dozen or so scattered over the watermeadow. They seem to come up randomly each year, singly rather than in clumps.
The bulrush grows in shallow water and, at 2m tall, has been described as “a very architectural plant” on www.naturespot.org.uk. Like teasels, the bulrush seed heads stay standing over the winter until they finally get blown down by a strong enough wind.
The flower is structured in two tiers – the brown-velvet cylinder is the female section, and this is topped with a straw-coloured male plume.