Reedmace is a tall aquatic plant with long, slender leaves and a distinctive brown cylindrical flowerhead. Other names for reedmace include bulrush, cattail, and punks. Bulrush and cattail are interchangeable terms for reedmace in North America, while punks is a regional name used in parts of England. In Europe, reedmace is also known as mädesüß, meaning sweet maiden, while in Asia it is called nagabana, or long flower. Regardless of the name, reedmace has been used for centuries by various cultures for food, medicine, and as a material for weaving and thatching.