Typha latifolia
The Bankers' small stature can be attributed, in part, to limited nutrients in their diet. They graze mostly on "Spartina" grasses but will feed on other plants such as bulrush ("Typha latifolia"), sea oats, and even poison ivy. Horses living closer to human habitation, such as those on Currituck Banks, have sometimes grazed on residential lawns and landscaping. Domesticated Bankers raised on manufactured horse feed from an early age tend to exhibit slightly larger frames.