Full Answer
What is a cattail?
Cattails, rushes , bulrushes, all words used to describe a tall grass like plant that grows in wetlands distinguished in mid summer through fall by the tall central spike that ends in a brown sausage shaped flower and seed pod.
How tall do cattails grow?
Cattails have an upright growth habit with basal leaves, a long, narrow upright stem, and a tall cylindrical inflorescence. With the right conditions, these plants can grow up to three meters tall.
How is the cattail related to the Bible?
Thus the cattail or American bulrush (Typha latifolia) is distantly related to its Biblical namesake both linguistcally and botanically. When the early settlers arrived in the New World their first problem was to build housing and supply food.
Are cattails Poales or Poales?
Poales: Cattail group. The cattails comprise two families (Sparganiaceae and Typhaceae) and two genera (Sparganium and Typha) of erect or floating marsh, pond, and streamside plants found mainly in temperate and cold regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Permaculture Plants: Cattail, Bulrush, or Reedmace
Common Name: Cattail, Bulrush, Reedmace, Catninetail, Cumbungi, Raupo Scientific Name: Typha species Family: Typhaceae (a large marsh herb family)
DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT
Plant Type: Herbaceous Wetland Plant Leaf Type: Deciduous Forest Garden Use: Aquatic/Wetland Layer Cultivars/Varieties: There are a number of species and varieties available
What does a cattail look like?
It might be stretching it somewhat, but the common name from these plants comes from the fact that it could be said the mature flowering plant looks a bit like a kitties tail! Cattails can spread rather aggressively, but aside from this, they are known to be a beneficial plant in their natural habitat.
Where do cattails grow?
These perennial aquatic plants are widely associated with growing in shallow waters in boggy marshes and wetland areas across temperate regions in North America.
How do cattails spread?
Propagating Cattail Plants. Cattails can self-seed freely and spread through their rhizomes. These rhizomes also make it easy to propagate if you want to add a new cluster of plants to a different large landscape area. Young shoots can also be divided in the spring when they are between five and ten inches tall.
How to grow cattails from seeds?
How to Grow Common Cattail Plants From Seed. If growing cattails from seeds, they need a lot of water for successful germination. They should be sown on the surface of the soil and kept very moist, to the point of being soggy. Read More.
How tall do cattails grow?
With the right conditions, these plants can grow up to three meters tall. They have a rhizomatous root system and spread rapidly to form attractive thick clumps. Cattails are monoecious, so the male and female flowers grow on the same plant. The male flowers, which are a shade of yellow, form at the top, and the female ones develop underneath in ...
How big do cattails get?
Botanical Name. Typha latifolia. Common Name. Common cattail, Broadleaf cattail, Bulrush. Plant Type. Perennial, Herbaceous. Mature Size. Up to 10 ft. tall.
What are cattail roots used for?
Over the years, cattail roots have also been used as a starchy food source and the stems have been harvested for making thatch materials, paper, furniture, headwear, and more. Known for being an effective biomass source, they are often added to compost heaps and used as fuel.
Why are bulrushes slower than cattails?
Bulrushes are much slower than cattails in establishing and spreading because they proliferate primarily through underground rhizomes rather than seeds. Bulrushes can handle and withstand long, dry periods better than cattails.
Why do cattails invade a wetland?
Cattails are known to invade a wetland much faster than bulrushes, taking over large expanses in a single growing season because of their mass quantities of wind-borne seeds. In growing season, cattails are more water dependent than bulrushes. Typically, the hardstem bulrush [Scirus acutus] is used in wetland projects and restoration.
How does a bulrush benefit the environment?
One area that benefits from this bulrush are urban wetlands, where soft-stem bulrushes can be and have been used to reduce pollutant loads carried by storm water runoff.
What is a bulrush?
The hard-stem bulrush (tule, black root) is a perennial herb with an obligate [restricted to a particular condition in life] , robustly rhizomatous wetland plant that forms dense colonies. The stems of this bulrush are erect and slender, sharp to softly triangular; typically reaching 3-10 feet tall. Likewise, the leaves are slender blades that are sheathed around the long stem. The flowers are brown spikelets. The panicle can have 3 to numerous spikelets, which are oval to cylindrical. The nutlets are completely covered by whitish-brown scales and have 6 basal bristles. Bulrushes have stout rootstocks and long, thick, brown underground stems [rhizomes]. The hard-stem bulrush has a much higher tolerance of mixosaline [water containing saline] conditions, than the soft-stem bulrush. It regrows well after removal and is tolerant of fire.
How tall do bulrushes grow?
They are annual or perennial plants that are medium to tall in height. Also known as tule, wool grass and rat grass, this herbaceous plant can grow up to 10 feet tall; they are found all through-out North America and Eurasia.
How does a bulrush help the water flow?
The bulrush [Scirpus spp] is one species of vegetation that is cultivated in shallow beds or channels containing a root medium such as sand and/or gravel are effective in helping to regulate water flow . At the same time, biochemical reactions occur on the submerged portions of the plants and within the wetland soils. Oxygen is passively made available for biochemical reactions mainly by the diffusion of air into the system (Rogers et al, 1991). In the United States alone, over 56 FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) systems process 95 million gallons a day of runoff and wastewater (Reed, 1991).
Do bulrushes grow in shallow water?
However, bulrushes tend to grow in deeper water, whereas cattails prefer shallow water. Bulrushes are various wetland herbs (aquatic) from the genus Scirpus.
What is a cattail?
Cattails, rushes , bulrushes, all words used to describe a tall grass like plant that grows in wetlands distinguished in mid summer through fall by the tall central spike that ends in a brown sausage shaped flower and seed pod. The word is an ancient one originating from Sanskrit and is not related to the word meaning to hurry. It appears that wherever people went they used the word to refer to the grasslike plants that grow in swamps or marshes. Bulrush in Britain refers to a reed used to make beehives, thatch and chair seats. The Biblical bulrush was the papyrus rush. Thus the cattail or American bulrush (Typha latifolia) is distantly related to its Biblical namesake both linguistcally and botanically.
What are the uses of cattails?
The uses of the cattail hardly stop here. The Pilgrims used the dry leaves as a floor covering to keep out the cold. The fishing industry used the leaves to caulk the barrels in which salted fish was sent back to Britain. The leaves were woven into baskets for a variety of uses. Another type of rush, the soft rush was used for making rush lights. The central core or pith of the plant is soft and absorbant when dry. By simply dipping the pith of this plant in tallow a suitable light can be made which will be as good as that of a candle. A length of rush (about 18") would burn about three quarters of an hour. This simple procedure was used, though apparently not to a great extent in the Colonies, as suitable rush was less plentiful here than in Britain. Hence the betty lamp was the more popular form of lighting in America while in Britain rush lights were in use among commoners well into the 19th century.
Why are cattails edible?
As a wild food source the cattail has few equals. When the first European settlers arrived they found the native Americans using the plant for cordage basketry and food. One can't help but surmise that during the first few years, as farm land was being cleared, the cattail helped more than one family survive until the next harvest. In early spring, as the ice leaves the marsh the cattails have already begun to grow below the water, pushing upward toward the sun. This early growth is quite edible either raw or cooked having a flavor similar to cucumber. The reason the cattail gets such an early start is the root or rhizome stores food all summer preparing for the next spring's growth. The rhizome is actually a series of bulbs strung together by roots. The bulbs can be peeled and boiled or dried and ground into flour suitable as substitute for wheat flour. The major importance of the bulbs is they are there all winter when many food sources are nonexistent. As long as the marsh has not frozen solid the rhizomes can be harvested. Lest you think this food source of small consequence an acre of cattail will produce as much as 32 tons of flour.
Why are cattails important?
The cattail is native to all 50 states and it continued to be important as a source of food and raw materials as colonists moved inland. However its use diminished as wood shingles replaced thatch, rugs and floor cloths became affordable and established farms became a more reliable source of food. By the early 19th century its only major use was for chair seats and so it remains today. But driving by a marsh with the cattails waving in the breeze I can't help but remember what a resource this was to our forefathers.
How to harvest Rush?
Usually harvested in small groups several people cut the plants just above the water line and lay them in piles behind them. Using a couple of the long leaves others lash the piles into bundles and haul them out of the marsh. The work is hard as the cutters spend the day bent over and the haulers must carry or drag the bundles out through the mud of the marsh. The bundles are then cut open on one end and the leaves fan ned out to dry. If the weather is on your side they are dry enough for use or storage in three days. If not, after the rain, the water is swept or shaken off the leaves and then they are turned repeatedly until both they and the ground have dried out sufficiently. Should the rain last for several days they will begin to rot and the entire crop will be lost. On such occasions we have hauled them into barns and sheds, hanging them from the beams to allow the water to run off. I'm quite certain that our forefathers did the same if the space was available. Anyone who has harvested hay before the advent of modern equipment will recognize the method.
