Schoenoplectus californicus

Inflorescence Tototra - reed ( Schoenoplectus californicus )

The Totora ( Schoenoplectus californicus ) is a flowering plant in the genus of bulrushes ( Schoenoplectus ) of the family of the Sedge family ( Cyperaceae ). The species thrives in wetlands on the North and South American continent and on Easter Island. It was used in many ways economically from different cultures.

Description

Totora is 10 to 15 millimeters measured by rhizomes. The blade is blunt triangular cylindrical with almost flat sides until almost. He is smooth, thumb- thick and up to 3 meters long .. The chromosome number is 2n = 68

Basal form three to four leaves that reach about one-sixth of the stem length. The leaf sheaths are roughly feathered at the front to frayed. Leaf blades absent or no longer reach than half the length of the leaf sheaths. They are about 20 millimeters long and about 2 mm wide.

The inflorescences are branched three times or more and reach heights of up to 21 centimeters. The bracts are erect and triangular to cylindrical. They measure 1-8 centimeters. The leaf edges of the bracts are often rough and trockenhäutig.

It formed between 25 and 150 spikelets that are individually or in groups. The spikelets measure 5 to 11 mm in length and about 3 mm in diameter. The husks are orange - brown and light oblong spotted. They are broad - oval and measure 2.5 × 2 mm. The Spelzenränder are ciliated and flattened the tips. They are scored between 0.1 and 0.2 millimeters deep. The awns are not twisted and stretched usually outward. They are about 0.3 millimeters long.

The two to four bracts of hermaphrodite flowers are dark reddish - brown and thick strap- shaped or triangular. They are set with blunt soft hair. The anthers measure about 1.5 millimeters, the pen is 2 rows.

The Achänenfrüchte are dark brown - gray and unequal biconvex or plano-convex or ovate to obovate. They measure 1,8-2.2 × 1.3 mm.

Distribution and location

Totora colonized riparian zones of rivers, ponds and lakes in vast colonies and also tolerate brackish water. It is native to high altitudes 0-1400 meters.

The distribution ranges from California in the north to Argentina and Chile in the south and includes the Caribbean islands. Further natural reserves are found in Hawaii, the Cook Islands and Easter Island.

The distribution of the plant located on the isolated Easter Island took place after archaeobotanical investigations long before the colonization by humans, probably through the feces of birds, starting with the American mainland. Today there are in the crater lakes of Rano Kao and Rano Raraku still extensive stocks.

Neophyte reserves are found in New Zealand.

Meaning and usage

The stalk interior is penetrated by cavities. The cut, dried and bundled stems have a high buoyancy in the water. That was the basis for a diverse, continues to this day commercial use. Several North American Indian tribes, the Chimu, the Mochica and the Easter Island culture used bundled totora stems for the construction of canoes, rafts and flotation devices. The people of the Urus still lives on floating islands made of totora reeds in Lake Titicaca. Houses and boats of the Urus are also built of reeds. In northern Peru play built of totora reed boats, which are designated as a Caballito de Totora, an important role in coastal fisheries.

Also in the Easter Island culture was used in many ways Totora. According to a report by William Thomson, 1886, Easter Island, visited the round, reminiscent of upturned boats Paenga houses with totora stalks were covered. 454 They are intertwined in addition to mats, 468 baskets, water-repellent capes and small, three -cornered hats for women. Totora was however, used for the production of sacred figures, the huge, high and four meters Paina characters.

In the opinion of Thor Heyerdahl presented the Easter Islanders canoes ago from reed bundles that were supposed to be so great that they could carry sail. There are petroglyphs that could support such an assumption. On the boards of several stone houses in Orongo crescent-shaped boats shown, the carry from one to three masts. At the Rano Raraku is carved with masts and sails on the chest of one of the Moai standing there a boat. These representations must be remembered, however, that they are from the late period, when the islanders already had contact with Europeans. The drawings are therefore likely to be rather naive pictures of European sailing ships, to which the arrangement of the masts and sails ( square sail ) [note 1] suggesting. In reports of European explorers large reed boats are not mentioned. Whether there has been on Easter Island seaworthy vessels from Totora, so speculation must remain clear archaeological evidence is there not for that.

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