39-619: The Narran Wetlands , also known as the Narran Lakes , contained within the Narran Lake Nature Reserve , comprise a series of protected ephemeral lakes and swamps fed by the Narran River in the north-west of New South Wales , Australia . The 26,480-hectare (65,400-acre) reserve is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Brewarrina . An 8,447-hectare (20,870-acre) area contained within
78-526: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of
117-589: A few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska, the largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about
156-514: A jelly-like paste for sores, boils, wounds, burns, scabs, and smallpox pustules. Cattail pollen is used as a banker source of food for predatory insects and mites (such as Amblyseius swirskii ) in greenhouses. The cattail, or, as it is commonly referred to in the American Midwest, the sausage tail, has been the subject of multiple artist renditions, gaining popularity in the mid-twentieth century. The term, sausage tail, derives from
195-699: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use
234-414: A simple, jointless stem that bears the flowering spikes. The plants are monoecious , with unisexual flowers that develop in dense racemes . The numerous male flowers form a narrow spike at the top of the vertical stem. Each male (staminate) flower is reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs, and withers once the pollen is shed. Large numbers of tiny female flowers form a dense, sausage -shaped spike on
273-508: A source of starch to produce ethanol . Because of their high productivity in northern latitudes, Typha are considered to be a bioenergy crop . The seed hairs were used by some indigenous peoples of the Americas as tinder for starting fires. Some tribes also used Typha down to line moccasins , and for bedding, diapers, baby powder, and cradleboards . One Native American word for Typha meant "fruit for papoose's bed". Typha down
312-718: Is Typha latifolia , which is distributed across the entire temperate northern hemisphere. It has also been introduced to Australia. T. angustifolia is nearly as widespread, but does not extend as far north; it may be introduced and invasive in North America . T. domingensis has a more southern American distribution, and it occurs in Australia. T. orientalis is widespread in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. T. laxmannii , T. minima , and T. shuttleworthii are largely restricted to Asia and southern Europe . Many parts of
351-670: Is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwaalaraay country. It is closely related to the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay languages. The Yuwaalayaay language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Shire of Balonne , including the town of Dirranbandi as well as the border town of Goodooga extending to Walgett and the Narran Lakes in New South Wales. Archaeological evidence in
390-657: Is largely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere , where it is found in a variety of wetland habitats. The rhizomes are edible, though at least some species are known to accumulate toxins and so must first undergo treatment before being eaten. Evidence of preserved starch grains on grinding stones suggests they were already eaten in Europe 30,000 years ago. Typha are aquatic or semi-aquatic, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial plants . The leaves are glabrous (hairless), linear, alternate and mostly basal on
429-404: Is linked to Baayami and relates a struggle between crocodiles. While crocodiles are no longer found in the area, excavations at a paleontological site at nearby Cuddie Springs that was once a lake during the arid glacial period shows extinct giant kangaroos , the marsupial lion , the diprotodon (giant wombat) and at least two species of crocodiles were present. The explorer Thomas Mitchell
SECTION 10
#1732780359510468-406: Is still used in some areas to stuff clothing items and pillows. Typha can be dipped in wax or fat and then lit as a candle, the stem serving as a wick. Without the use of wax or fat it will smolder slowly, somewhat like incense , and may repel insects. The flower stalks can be made into chopsticks . The leaves can be treated to weave into baskets, mats, or sandals. The rushes are harvested and
507-474: Is strong with a heavy texture and it is hard to bleach, so it is not suitable for industrial production of graphical paper. In 1853, considerable amounts of cattail paper were produced in New York , due to a shortage of raw materials. In 1948, French scientists tested methods for annual harvesting of the leaves. Because of the high cost, these methods were abandoned and no further research was done. Today Typha
546-518: Is the first known European to visit the Narran Lakes area in 1846. He was guided through the area by local Aboriginal people, and recorded following "well-beaten paths of the natives" as well as "pure water in great abundance" and "most excellent grass". Mitchell recorded that Indigenous people made a paste or bread out of harvested seeds of the Panicum laevinode grasses. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at
585-461: Is used to make decorative paper. Fibers up to 4 meters long can be obtained from the stems when they are treated mechanically or chemically with sodium hydroxide . The stem fibers resemble jute and can be used to produce raw textiles. The leaf fibers can be used as an alternative to cotton and linen in clothing. The yield of leaf fiber is 30 to 40 percent and Typha glauca can produce 7 to 10 tons per hectare annually. Typha can be used as
624-660: The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium, is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but the terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with
663-1089: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . Typha Typha / ˈ t aɪ f ə / is a genus of about 30 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Typhaceae . These plants have a variety of common names, in British English as bulrush or (mainly historically) reedmace , in American English as cattail , or punks , in Australia as cumbungi or bulrush , in Canada as bulrush or cattail , and in New Zealand as reed , cattail , bulrush or raupo . Other taxa of plants may be known as bulrush , including some sedges in Scirpus and related genera. The genus
702-491: The Typha plant are edible to humans. Before the plant flowers, the tender inside of the shoots can be squeezed out and eaten raw or cooked. The starchy rhizomes are nutritious with a protein content comparable to that of maize or rice. They can be processed into a flour with 266 kcal per 100 grams, and are most often harvested from late autumn to early spring. They are fibrous, and the starch must be scraped or sucked from
741-962: The Great Lakes to the Everglades . Native sedges are displaced and wet meadows shrink, likely as a response to altered hydrology of the wetlands and increased nutrient levels. An introduced or hybrid species may be contributing to the problem. Control is difficult. The most successful strategy appears to be mowing or burning to remove the aerenchymous stalks, followed by prolonged flooding. It may be more important to prevent invasion by preserving water level fluctuations, including periods of drought, and to maintain infertile conditions. Typha are frequently eaten by wetland mammals such as muskrats , which also use them to construct feeding platforms and dens, thereby also providing nesting and resting places for waterfowl. The following species and hybrids are currently accepted: The most widespread species
780-828: The Narran floodplain is the terminal system of the Narran River, the easternmost distributary of the Balonne River , and lies between the towns of Brewarrina and Walgett , in the Murray-Darling Basin . The floodplain contains three areas of open water, Clear Lake and Back Lake (with Long Arm) in the north, and Narran Lake (also known as Terewah) in the south, connected by expanses of vegetation subject to flooding. The wetland supports extensive and dense stands of lignum with, in places, an overstorey of river red gums or belalie . The vegetation constitutes
819-615: The bays of the Great Lakes , for example, they are among the most abundant wetland plants. Different species of cattails are adapted to different water depths. Well-developed aerenchyma make the plants tolerant of submersion. Even the dead stalks are capable of transmitting oxygen to the rooting zone. Although Typha are native wetland plants, they can be aggressive in their competition with other native species. They have been problematic in many regions in North America, from
SECTION 20
#1732780359510858-700: The cob . In mid-summer when the male flowers are mature, the pollen can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener. The seeds have a high linoleic acid content and can be used to feed cattle and chickens. They can also be found in African countries like Ghana. Harvesting cattail removes nutrients from the wetland that would otherwise return via the decomposition of decaying plant matter. Floating mats of cattails remove nutrients from eutrophied bodies of freshwater . For local native tribes around Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia , Typha were among
897-738: The country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in the United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with
936-478: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are
975-531: The first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud, with their abundant wind-dispersed seeds. Buried seeds can survive in the soil for long periods of time. They germinate best with sunlight and fluctuating temperatures, which is typical of many wetland plants that regenerate on mud flats. The plants also spread by rhizomes , forming large, interconnected stands. Typha are considered to be dominant competitors in wetlands in many areas, and they often exclude other plants with their dense canopy. In
1014-483: The form of stone artefacts has dated human occupation in the region to at least 30,000 years. A flat grindstone embedded with plant tissue was used to grind bulrush tubers over 28,000 years ago. Giiguradjin (the northern Narran Lake area) was once the site of large gatherings (or yuurrma-y in the Uallaroi language) of Aboriginal people. It is a place where several Dreaming Tracks converge. The lake's creation story
1053-575: The largest colony of straw-necked ibises (with up to 200,000 pairs), over 1% of the world populations of Australian pelicans and black-fronted dotterels , and small numbers of endangered Australasian bitterns . Other birds which have been recorded in relatively large numbers include pied , little black and great cormorants , freckled and pink-eared ducks , black swans , glossy ibises , whiskered terns , royal spoonbills and darters . Yuwaalayaay (also known as Uallaroi , Yuwalyai, Euahlayi, Yuwaaliyaay, Gamilaraay, Kamilaroi, Yuwaaliyaayi )
1092-410: The leaves often dried for later use in chair seats. Re-wetted, the leaves are twisted and wrapped around the chair rungs to form a densely woven seat that is then stuffed (usually with the left over rush). Small-scale experiments have indicated that Typha are able to remove arsenic from drinking water. The boiled rootstocks have been used as a diuretic for increasing urination, or mashed to make
1131-493: The local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance the visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to
1170-651: The most important plants and every part of the plant had multiple uses. For example, they were used to construct rafts and other boats. During World War II, the United States Navy used the down of Typha as a substitute for kapok in life vests and aviation jackets. Tests showed that even after 100 hours of submersion, the buoyancy was still effective. Typha are used as thermal insulation in buildings as an organic alternative to conventional insulating materials such as glass wool or stone wool . Typha stems and leaves can be used to make paper . It
1209-658: The reserve is protected under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. It is internationally important because of its rarity and naturalness; its significance for waterbirds, supporting large colonial waterbird breeding events of ibis , spoonbills and cormorants ; and its importance as a drought refuge for waterbirds . The vegetation and the waterbird colonies are at risk from reduced flooding caused by upstream water abstraction for agriculture in Queensland . The wetland complex formed by
Narran Wetlands - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-419: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by
1287-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park
1326-444: The stem below the male spike. In larger species this can be up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 1 to 4 centimetres (0.4 to 2 in) thick. The seeds are minute, 0.2 millimetres (0.008 in) long, and attached to fine hairs. When ripe, the heads disintegrate into a cottony fluff from which the seeds disperse by wind . Fruits of Typha have been found as long ago as 69 mya in modern Central Europe. Typha are often among
1365-506: The sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in
1404-467: The substrate on which the waterbird breeding colonies depend and which require regular flooding for their survival. The average annual rainfall is 495 millimetres (19.5 in). The surrounding region is part of the semi-arid pastoral zone used mainly for grazing cattle and sheep. The wetlands have been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because they support large numbers of nesting waterbirds when flooded. Birds include
1443-527: The tender white heart inside can be eaten raw or boiled and eaten like asparagus . This food has been popular among the Cossacks in Russia, and has been called "Cossack asparagus". The leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked, especially in late spring when they are young and tender. In early summer the sheath can be removed from the developing green flower spike, which can then be boiled and eaten like corn on
1482-509: The tough fibers. Baby shoots emerging from the rhizomes, which are sometimes subterranean, can be picked and eaten raw. Also underground is a carbohydrate lump which can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked like a potato . The plant is one championed by survival experts because various parts can be eaten throughout the year. Plants growing in polluted water can accumulate lead and pesticide residues in their rhizomes, and these should not be eaten. The rind of young stems can be peeled off, and
1521-473: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like
#509490