Flowering Rush /Butomus umbellatus/

It is a perennial, hardy plant of the water-plantain family that usually grows in small, dense groups in various shallow-water zones. It can reach a length of up to 150 cm. The plant has a horizontal, long, creeping rhizome with many roots at the lower part. The inflorescence resembles a false umbel, consisting of three terminal inflorescences, and the flowers are pink. The fruits have air chambers, providing the plant with buoyancy until it reaches the shore.

For medicinal purposes, the rhizome of flowering rush is utilized. It is typically collected in spring or late autumn, and at that moment, it is richest in starch and proteins.

In traditional medicine, this plant has a long history of use. Its saponin content supports its expectorant properties. Fresh juice applications from the plant's leaves are used to treat coughs, vitiligo, and various dermatoses. A decoction of the rhizome is used as a mild laxative and a diuretic in cases of edema and ascites.

Photo: www.redzet.eu

Information sources: www.latvijasdaba.lv, Wikipedia, https://www.agfonds.lv