Cattail(Typha latifolia)

Cattails are tall marsh plants which grow in dense stands around Lacey’s Pond.

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

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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