Download Cattail (Typha latifolia)

Cattail
(Typha latifolia)
Family: Typhaceae From the Greek Typha which is the
name for the cat-tail or reed-mace family. In England and
Canada it is commonly and mistakenly called bulrush
(Scirpus).
Genus: Typha (TY-fuh) – Is from the Greek name for this
plant.
Species: latifolia (lat-ee-FOH-lee-uh) – Means wide leaves.
Alternative Pronunciation: lat-ih-FOH-lee-uh
Cattails are tall marsh plants which grow in dense stands
around Lacey’s Pond.
The call of a red-winged blackbird is
heard in early spring as they arrive and
set up a breeding territory at Lacey’s
Pond amongst the cattails.
Since 2004 they have been joined by a
pair of mallard ducks.
Cattail
The long, thin,
slender, stiff,
grayish green
leaves are grass
blade-like and tall –
often 2.8 m.
The mature leaves, which are rich in fiber,
can be woven into mats.
Cattail
The female flowers
and fruit is a brown
sausage-like head
on a tall round
stem.
Cattail
The seeds are spread
by the wind and
designed to float on
the surface of ponds
to the edge where
they put down their
roots.
Cattail
The flower heads were once soaked in oil
or other flammable material and then
used as torches.
Cattail
1st Nations people first used the cattail for food. During
winter they ground up the rhizomes for flour. The tender
young shoots of spring, which are full of vitamins and
minerals, were used as fresh greens.
The young green female flowers, which will become the
brown cattail, are boiled, buttered and served like corn
on the cob. The mature pollen of the male flower from
the top of the female flower, was an additive to ground
flour. The summer rhizomes were peeled and boiled or
fried with onions.
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