The Bartrams

Notes from Michael Bond, botanist

Typha spp.
Typhaceae (Cattail family)

Common Cattail, Narrow-Leaved Cattail - This plant is practically found worldwide. In North American species range from Alaska to the Florida Keys and down throughout Mexico. Very common in brackish or freshwater marshes, shallow water, ditches, ponds, slow rivers and streams. In Florida, there are 405 recognized species. In general, Typhas are erect, rhizamatous herbs, growing to 4 m. The leaves are long, stiff, linear, and "sword like." Stems are erect and unbranched, topped with yellow (male flowers), forming a cylinder, and green at first then turning brown (female) flowers below in a "sausage-like" shape. The fruits are tiny achenes on hairy stalks.
    Often forming dense stands, Typha latifolia L. and Typha angustifollia L. are widely distributed and are sure indicators of the presence of surficial water. Recipes for cattails cite the asparagus quality of the shoots, and praise the pancake flour from the pollen. While all parts are used for food, cattails are also used in medicines and textiles.
     Medical uses are primarily referenced in the ethnobotanical literature.   Frequent uses seem to be dermatological aids such as treatments for abrasions, burns, and chaffing in babies. Used in thatching, toys, and textiles, woven cattail mats have been found at a 10,000 year old Nevada site. The pulp exudes rayon-type compounds, although it is not the best source.
     Planted Nile river cattails improve soil quality probably due to the microorganismal associations.

CAUTION: While cattails are not inherently toxic, the water nurturing these aquatic plants may be. Cattails are well known nitrogen fixers and tend to absorb atmospheric and soil pollutants.