bulrush

Noun
Synonyms: cat's-tailbullrushnailrodreed macereedmaceTypha latifoliacommon rushsoft rushJuncus effusus

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. tall marsh plant with cylindrical seed heads that explode when mature shedding large quantities of down; its long flat leaves are used for making mats and chair seats; of North America, Europe, Asia and North AfricaSynonyms: cat's-tailbullrushnailrodreed macereedmaceTypha latifolia
  2. tall rush with soft erect or arching stems found in Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand, and common in North AmericaSynonyms: bullrushcommon rushsoft rushJuncus effusus
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Bulrush \Bul"rush`\ (b[.u]l"r[u^]sh`), n. [OE. bulrysche, bolroysche; of uncertain origin, perh. fr. bole stem + rush.] (Bot.) A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water. [1913 Webster]

Note: The name bulrush is applied in England especially to the cat-tail (Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia) and to the lake club-rush (Scirpus lacustris); in America, to the Juncus effusus, and also to species of Scirpus or club-rush. [1913 Webster]

cattail \cat"tail\, Cat-tail \Cat"-tail\(k[a^]t"t[=a]l), n. (Bot.) A tall erect rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing widely in fresh and salt marshes, with long, flat, sword-shaped leaves, having clusters of small brown flowers in a dense cylindrical spike at the top of the stem; -- called also bulrush and reed mace. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin. [1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5]

Note: The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia. [1913 Webster]

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