What were 'rushes' in English history?

Question

King Henry II of England was said to have a terrible temper. When he was in one of his rages it was said he would fall to the ground in a fit and even chew at the filthy rushes. What are rushes?

Answer 1

Straw was scatterd on floors to absorb mess and mask odors - - - the English term was Rushes - -- -- actually if one wants to get picky Rushes are a specific Plant Specifically called a BULRUSH, BUT anything strewn on the floor was called Rushes even if it was ordinary straw or sweet sedge which was most often used because it smelled good and was cheaper then then Glade Air-Freshener products and more convenient than taking baths in an era without indoor plumbing.
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/sedges39.html
""The Sweet Sedge is a vigorous, reed-like, aquatic plant, flourishing in ditches, by the margins of lakes and streams and in marshy places generally, associated with reeds, bullrushes and bur-reed.
Its erect, sword-shaped leaves bear considerable resemblance to those of the Yellow Flag, hence its equally common popular name of 'Sweet Flag,' though it is not related botanically to the Iris, being a member of the Arum order, Araceae. All parts of the plant have a peculiar, agreeable fragrance.

Formerly, on account of its pleasant odour, it was freely strewn on the floors of churches at festivals and often in private houses, instead of rushes. The specific name, calamus, is derived from the Greek calamos (a reed).

The floors of Norwich Cathedral until quite recently were always strewn with calamus at great festivals. """

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/grasse34.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulrush
""The term bulrush (or sometimes as bullrush) typically refers to tall, herbaceous plants that grow in wetlands. However, as a common name for a plant, bulrush can mean very different things in different parts of the world.

In British English, bulrush is sometimes incorrectly the common name for Typha, called "cattail" in American English. True Bulrush is a sedge, Schoenoplectus lacustris.
http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/wetland_survey/reedmace.htm

In American English, a bulrush is any one of several plants in the family Cyperaceae, typically of the genus Scirpus, Bolboschoenus, or Schoenoplectus.
Rushes are similar plants classified in the family Juncaceae
In the Book of Exodus in the Bible, the infant Moses was found in a basket made of bulrushes, a reference to Cyperus papyrus.
In New Zealand bullrush is a game normally enjoyed by children. ""

Peace

Answer 2

Basically straw on the floor, littered with flea's, animal dropping's, pee, and piece's of food tossed to the dog's and other pet's. Get the picture?