Last year I wrote about the more common grasses, this year I will continue because there are so many more. The next genus worth mentioning is Scirpus, also called Rushes. There is a Wooly Rush - S.cyparius, with fluffy, silken tassels and dark green foliage. This plant forms a dense clump and doesn't put out runners. Than there is Giant Nut Grass - S.fluvialis, with tall parasols to 4 feet tall and the most known and easy available is Zebra Rush - S.zebrina, with white bands every few inches along its tall green stems. White Bulrush - S.albescence is one of the nicest rushes, having upright white stems and brown tassels on the tips. The regular Bulrush is a very nice plant, but it has to be watched as it is very invasive. Very attractive is the variegated Manna Grass - Glyceria maxima. This is a rambling plant with 2 inch wide leaves about a foot in heights. The leaves are striped in creamy white and green. In cooler weather the leaves take on a pink tinge. The plant is very invasive and should be always planted in containers. Now to a few of the more tropical species, Cyperuses, they are related to the Sedge family. All have leaf fronds resembling umbrellas. The most common and easy available and hardiest is C. alternifolia - Umbrella Palm. This plant freezes in winter but recovers quickly in spring and sends out new umbrellas. Some species can grow umbrellas to 2 feet in diameter. There are also dwarf species, C.alternifolia"Nanus", is one of them. Than there is the ancient plant of Papyrus - C.papurus, the Egyptians used it to make paper. This plant is only borderline hardy and probably needs a sheltered place in winter. This is a giant of a plant. There also is a Mexican Papyrus, not quite as overpowering. Very attractive is Dwarf Papyrus - C.isoladus. This plant is not hardy and needs to be over wintered as a houseplant. Last I like to mention Cattails - Typha angustifolia, an imposing plant with upright tall slender green foliage and poker-like seed heads. T.latifolia is very similar but too vigorous a grower for the water garden. A more restrained variety is T.variegata. The cream and green striped foliage is very attractive, but it does not produce cats as readily, just like the Dwarf Cattail - T.minima.