Raupo.....

....producing copious amounts of pollen which Maori used for breadmaking by mixing with water, the bread was called pungapunga.

Raupo is also known as Bulrush. Here in the Southern Hemisphere we have Typha orientalis, a little different to the Northern Hemisphere which I believe has Typha latifolia. The difference being the wide leaves of Typha  latifolia are flat and pale greyish-green in colour. The flower spikes are darker, almost black.

I had a lovely walk down by a small wetlands area. I stood for a while with the sun upon my back listening to the different sounds of mallards, nesting shags, shovelers, swans and tiny noises of silvereyes darting amongst tall grasses. A light breeze rustled long dried leaves of raupo and evergreen leaves of native trees, it was wonderful...I felt as if the day had halted for just a minuet or two.

Thursday.....beautiful day to be out and about. Blue skies, light breeze and sunshine, 14.4C, pretty good for a winter's day especially after a frosty start.

Happy Thursday everyone :)