Bounce on It, Sail with It, Snack on It: The Multifunctional Marvel of Totora

I was amazed by a German television documentary about the totora plant. The documentary revealed a world I never imagined---where a humble reed is not just a plant but a lifeline. It showed how totora is used to build floating islands on Lake Titicaca, where entire communities thrive. These islands are sturdy enough to support homes, schools, and even livestock, yet they bounce gently underfoot, like walking on a waterbed. But the most surprising moment came when the camera zoomed in on a young girl, casually chewing a piece of the reed like it was sugarcane. "It's edible too!" the narrator exclaimed, as the girl smiled and kept munching. I couldn't help but wonder, what kind of plant could do all that?