Other common names:
Broad-leaved Cattail French names:
Quenouille à feuilles larges Family: Cattail Family (Typhaceae) Distinctive features:
Long upright leaves, marshy areas. No gap between the two parts of the flower stalk. Similar species: • Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia) - Leaves much narrower. • Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) - Much smaller, has "real" flowers that are blue. • Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus) - Leaves are very similar, but has large showy yellow flowers. Flowers: Summer; Green/Brown; Indistinguishable parts (petals) Leaves: Simple, Entire Habitat: Wet Areas Uses:
The leaves make great thatching in a survival situation.
Edible:
Most parts of Common Cattail are edible: roots, young shoots, pollen.
Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 410 Native/Non-native:
Native Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: latifolia: wide or broad leaf For more information visit: Ontario Wildflowers Photographs:
151 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
Common Cattail is aptly named - it is very common, and almost everyone can recognize the tall straight leaves in marshes.
The flower of Common Cattail. The pollen is in the uppert part, and falls down onto the stamens on the lower part.
Note that there is no gap between the upper pollen-bearing part and the lower part. This is in contrast to Narrow-leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia).
Another flowering Common Cattail.
The yellow pollen is edible, and can be mixed with flour.
Common Cattail seed head.
In the winter, the seed head gradually degrades and sheds its tiny fluffy seeds in the wind.
Sometimes it ends up looking like this.
Base of Common Cattail plants in the water.
Common Cattail are edible.
Some Common Cattails in a boggy marshy area.
A stand of Common Cattail plants in mid to late winter.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)
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