Flowering-Rush Family [Butomaceae] |
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flower
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petals
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Midsummers Day! 24th June 2006, Wyrley & Essington Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
Stands up to 5 feet tall, growing in shallow water. The leaves are long and narrow, grass-like, tapering gradually to a point. |
10th June 2010, Lancaster Canal, Lancaster. | Photo: © RWD |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers emerge onion-style like bulbils from a clove which consisted of three pointed green bracts. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
The bulbils open a few at a time forming a flat-topped umbel. The flowers are all at the top on 2 inch red-coloured stalks. The three bracts which encompassed them wither and die. Unopened flowers resemble miniature tulips. Note bee nectaring top left. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
Flowers on the periphery seem to open first. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
As yet un-opened buds wrapped in three semi-spiralling brownish-red bracts. |
24th June 2006, Wyrley & Essington Canal, BCN. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers have three wide almost white rose-pink petals set at 120°, and three narrower and deeper magenta sepals behind and between them. It erroneously looks like there are 6 petals. |
24th June 2006, Wyrley & Essington Canal, BCN. | Photo: © RWD |
There are nominally nine rose-red coloured stamens bearing bright yellow pollen. Six brighter magenta carpels with white tips at the centre destined to become the follicles of the fruit. Only one style. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
The flowers soon lose their prime. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
The fruits enlarge on ripening flowers. Bee dips in for a drink of nectar. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
Becoming very ripe with the fruit consisting of six follicles reminiscent of those of Dwarf Willow. |
30th July 2007, Huddersfield, Huddersfield Narrow Canal. | Photo: © RWD |
The leaves are grass-like with a 'V' cross-section, long and narrow, gradually tapering to a point. |
Some similarities to: Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum) and a member of the Garlic group of flowers which also has bulbils of flower buds arising from a single casing atop a single stem. This also has 3 + 3 pinkish petals/sepals. Despite its common name, Flowering-Rush is not a member of the rushes or sedges families. Flowering-Rush is the one and only member of the Flowering-Rush family. It is a tall handsome plant growing up to 5 feet tall and is fresh-water aquatic and grows in profusion at the waters edge of canals and ponds etc. The numerous flowers which are at the top of the plant present a cup-shaped appearance have three pink petals interspersed by three darker red pink sepals. The Leaves are long, stiff and grass-like with a 'V' cross-section for stiffness. Not to be confused semantically with : Flowering Nutmeg Habitat includes sitting in shallow ponds, edges of canals or ditches and riversides. It is usually an escapee. Flowering-Rush is bisexual. In some parts of the world Flowering-Rush is regarded as an invasive weed to be controlled, but in the UK it doesn't present much of a problem. In fact, some books list it as a rare and protected species in the UK, not to be destroyed. A green dye can be extracted from this plant.
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Butomus | umbellatus | ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ | Butomaceae |
Butomus (Flowering-rush) |
Flowering-Rush Family [Butomaceae] |