Typha capensis (Rohrb.) N.E. Br.

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Typha capensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu

Typha capensis

Photo: Bart Wursten
Umunthu Camp, Mzuzu

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Synonyms: Typha australis N.E. Br.
Typha latifolia L. subsp. capensis Rohrb.
Common names: Bulrush (English)
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Robust aquatic perennial, up to 2.5 m, growing from a thick creeping rhizome. Leaves long and strap-shaped; flowering stems with characteristic terminal inflorescences; sexes separate. Male flowers a more slender spike above the densely packed, minute female flowers. Male part short-lived, female part turning deep velvety brown.
Type location:
South Africa
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: capensis: of the Cape
Habitat: A species of dams, marshes and water courses, often forming large colonies.
Altitude range: (metres) Up to 1530 m
Flowering time:Sep - Apr
Worldwide distribution: Angola, DR Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini and South Africa.
FZ divisions: N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated: Sunday 30 June 2019
Literature:

Catarino, L. & Martins, E.S. (2010). Typhaceae Flora Zambesiaca 13(4) Pages 89 - 90.

Champluvier, D. (1988). Typhaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 415. (Includes a picture).

Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 372. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 112.

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 237.

Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 112. (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 148.

Siebert, S. & Mössmer, M. (Editors) (2002). SABONET Southern Mozambique Expedition 2001; Provisional Plant Checklist of the Maputo Elephant Reserve (MER) and Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR) SABONET News 7(1) Page 29.

Sosef, M.S.M. (2017). Typhaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 8 - 9.

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 193.


Other sources of information about Typha capensis:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Typha capensis
Flora of Burundi: Typha capensis
Flora of Caprivi: Typha capensis
Flora of the DRC: Typha capensis
Flora of Mozambique: Typha capensis
Flora of Rwanda: Typha capensis
Flora of Zambia: Typha capensis
Flora of Zimbabwe: Typha capensis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Typha capensis
African Plant Database: Typha capensis
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Typha capensis
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Typha capensis
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Typha capensis
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Typha capensis
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Typha capensis
JSTOR Plant Science: Typha capensis
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Typha capensis
Plants of the World Online: Typha capensis
Tropicos: Typha capensis
Wikipedia: Typha capensis


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-26

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2026). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Typha capensis.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=103050, retrieved 19 May 2026

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