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Typha Latifolia L.
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Typha Latifolia L.
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| Description: Cattails are herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial plants with long, slender green stalks topped with brown, fluffy sausage shaped flowering heads. They are usually 1-3 meters tall. The plant consists of a long green stalk with narrow green leaves that are much longer than they are wide. It has a long brown stalk that feels like cotton at the top and when you pull it apart it spreads seeds. |
| Discussion: The Cauhuilla Indians used the stalks for matting, bedding material and ceremonial bundles.They are common throughout the United States and temperate and tropical places world wide. Parts of the cattails are edible. |
| Distribution: All across the U.S. In wet places. |
| Location: Volo Bog marker #3. |
| © Copyright 2003, Taveirne Middle School, www.bighollow.us. All rights reserved; Photos courtesy of: Heather C. and Jessica H.; Text written by Jessica H. and Heather C. |
| References: Aquatic Plants of
Illinois, Illinois State Museum: 1977.
National Resources Conservation Service, http://plants.usda.gov |
| Click here for more photos of the Broad-Leaved Cattail |