Typha latifolia L. - Broad-leaved Cattail


 

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Typha latifolia - (image 1 of 5)

 

Taxonomy

Family: Typhaceae

Habitat

Marshes, bogs, shallow water of ponds, ditches.

Associates

(angry) Red-winged blackbirds.

 Distribution

Nearly cosmopolitan. Found throughout the U.S. but more common inland than T. angustifolia.

Morphology

Rhizomatous perennial to 3 m. Leaves flat, 10-23 mm wide. Staminate and pistillate parts of the spike contiguous, or rarely separated by less than 4 mm; pistillate portion brown, 10-15 cm long and 2-3 cm thick at maturity; pistillate bracteoles lacking; pollen in tetrads.

Notes

Flowers early to mid July

Wetland indicator: Obligate

Hybrids between this and T. angustifolia are called T. x glauca Godr. Hybrids will usually show intermediate characteristics of the two parents.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.

The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

 

Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.

 


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 Michael Hough © 2005