Biology:Typha latifolia

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Typha latifolia
Mature seedhead
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Typhaceae
Genus: Typha
Species:
T. latifolia
Binomial name
Typha latifolia
Synonyms[2][3]

Typha latifolia is a perennial herbaceous wetland plant in the genus Typha. It is known in English as bulrush[4][5] (sometimes as common bulrush[6] to distinguish from other species of Typha), and in North America as broadleaf cattail.[7] It is found as a native plant species throughout most of Eurasia and North America, and more locally in Africa and South America. The genome of T. latifolia was published in 2022.[8]

Description

Typha latifolia grows 1.5 to 3 metres (5 to 10 feet) high[6][9] and it has leaves 2–4 centimetres (3⁄4–1 1⁄2 inches) broad. It will generally grow from 0.75 to 1 m (2 to 3 ft) of water depth. The leaves are deciduous, appearing in spring and dying down in the autumn.[5]

The flowers form in a dense cluster at the top of the main stem; they are divided into a female portion below, and a tassel of male flowers above; the female and male parts are contiguous, which distinguishes the species readily from Typha angustifolia where there is a 3–8 cm gap of bare stem between the female and male flowers. Flowering is in June to July; after this, the male portion falls off, leaving the female portion to form a fruit head maturing into the familiar brown sausage-shaped spike. The seed heads persist through the winter, and then gradually break up in spring to release the tiny seeds embedded in hairs which assist with wind dispersal.[5]

  • Flowerhead in late spring showing the male (staminate) flowers above the female (pistillate) flowers
    Flowerhead in late spring showing the male (staminate) flowers above the female (pistillate) flowers
  • Mature seedheads in late summer, Romania
    Mature seedheads in late summer, Romania
  • Mature seedheads in late summer, Lappeenranta, Finland
    Mature seedheads in late summer, Lappeenranta, Finland
  • Seed head with seeds dispersing
    Seed head with seeds dispersing
  • Cross section of plant's pseudostem, formed of overlapping leaf bases
    Cross section of plant's pseudostem, formed of overlapping leaf bases

Taxonomy

It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[10][11]

Natural hybrids

Together with Typha laxmannii Lepech., it is a parent species of the natural hybrid Typha × smirnovii Mavrodiev.[12]

Distribution and habitat

File:Autumn Cattails at Sunset in East Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.webm
British Columbia, Canada

It is found as a native plant species widely in Eurasia and North America, and more locally in Africa and South America.[13] In Canada, it occurs in all provinces and also in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and in the United States, it is native to all states except Hawaii.[14][15] It is an introduced and invasive species, and is considered a noxious weed in Australia and Hawaii.[16] It has been reported in Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. It is referred to as Soli-soli in the Philippines.[13]

The species has been found in a variety of climates, including tropical, subtropical, southern and northern temperate, humid coastal, and dry continental.[15] It is found at elevations from sea level to 2,300 metres (7,500 ft). T. latifolia is an "obligate wetland" species, meaning that it is always found in or near water.[17] The species generally grows in flooded areas where the water depth does not exceed 0.8 m (2 1⁄2 ft),[18] but has also been reported growing in floating mats in slightly deeper water.[15] It grows mostly in fresh water but also occurs in slightly brackish marshes.[17] The species can displace other species native to salt marshes upon reduction in salinity. Under such conditions the plant may be considered aggressive since it interferes with preservation of the salt marsh habitat.[17][19]

T. latifolia shares its range with other related species, and hybridizes with Typha angustifolia (lesser bulrush or narrow-leaf cattail) to form Typha × glauca (T. angustifolia × T. latifolia).[15] T. latifolia is usually found in shallower water than T. angustifolia.[20]

Uses

Traditionally, the plant has been a part of certain indigenous cultures of British Columbia, as a source of food, medicine, and for other uses. The rhizomes are edible after cooking and removing the skin, while peeled stems and leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked. The young flower spikes, young shoots, and sprouts at the end of the rootstocks are edible as well.[21][22][23] The pollen from the mature cones can be used as a flavouring.[24] The starchy rootstalks are ground into meal by Native Americans.[22]

It is not advisable to eat specimens deriving from polluted water as it absorbs pollutants and in fact is used as a bioremediator. Specimens with a very bitter or spicy taste should not be eaten.[25]


Common names

Typha latifolia is also sometimes known as great reedmace (mainly historical,[26] but occasionally still in modern use[27]), common cattail, cat-o'-nine-tails, cooper's reed,[28] cumbungi.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}

References

  1. ↑ Lansdown, R.V. (2017). "Typha latifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164165A84300723.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/164165/84300723. Retrieved 12 November 2021. 
  2. ↑ Tropicos, Typha latifolia
  3. ↑ The Plant List, Typha latifolia
  4. ↑ P.A. Stroh; T. A. Humphrey; R.J. Burkmar et al., eds (2020). "Bulrush Typha latifolia L.". BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.9bp. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Streeter D, Hart-Davies C, Hardcastle A, Cole F, Harper L. 2009. Collins Flower Guide. Harper Collins ISBN 9-78-000718389-0
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Aaron Kitching. "Common Bulrush". Wild Flower Web. http://www.wildflowerweb.co.uk/plant/75/common-bulrush. 
  7. ↑ "Typha latifolia". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TYLA. 
  8. ↑ Widanagama, Shane D; Freeland, Joanna R; Xu, Xinwei; Shafer, Aaron B A (2021-11-22). "Genome assembly, annotation, and comparative analysis of the cattail Typha latifolia". G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics 12 (2). doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkab401. ISSN 2160-1836. PMID 34871392. 
  9. ↑ "Cattails (Typha spp.)". https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/WEEDS/cattails.html. 
  10. ↑ Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 2, p. 971). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358992
  11. ↑ Typha latifolia L. (n.d.). International Plant Names Index. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://www.ipni.org/n/836870-1
  12. ↑ Typha × smirnovii Mavrodiev. (n.d.). Plants of the World Online. Retrieved January 5, 2026, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/20005629-1
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Typha latifolia (aquatic plant)" , Global Invasive Species Database. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  14. ↑ Flora of North America vol 22 p 282.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 "Typha latifolia, U.S. Forest Service Fire Effects Information Database", U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2011-02-20
  16. ↑ "Typha latifolia (Typhaceae) Species description or overview", Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). Retrieved 2011-02-21.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "USDA Plant Guide: Typha latifolia", United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  18. ↑ "Broadleaf Cattail" , Utah State University Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  19. ↑ "Can Native Plants be Invasive?". https://www.ecobeneficial.com/ask_ecobeneficial/can-native-plants-be-invasive/. 
  20. ↑ P.A. Stroh; T. A. Humphrey; R.J. Burkmar et al., eds (2020). "Lesser Bulrush Typha angustifolia L.". BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.25e. 
  21. ↑ Turner, Nancy J. Food Plants of Interior First Peoples (Victoria: UBC Press, 1997) ISBN 0-7748-0606-0
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 810. ISBN 0-394-50432-1. 
  23. ↑ Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009). Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414. 
  24. ↑ Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076. 
  25. ↑ YouTube - Wild Living with Sunny: episode 4 Video describing collection and cooking of common cattail.
  26. ↑ "Handbook of the British Flora". 1920. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/17830974. 
  27. ↑ "Great Reedmace". Sirhowy Hill Woodlands. https://www.sirhowyhillwoodlands.co.uk/greatreedmace/. 
  28. ↑ "Species profile: Typha latifolia". IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). 2006-04-03. https://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=895. 

Wikidata ☰ Q147520 entry



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