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NARROW LEAVED CATTAIL

NOMENCLATURE

Other Names: narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia), common cattail (Typha latifolia)

Scientific Name: Typha spp.

Plant Family: Typhaceae

GENERAL INFORMATION

Botanical Description: This aquatic herb has two species found commonly in Wisconsin. Narrow-leaved cattail (T. angustifolia L.) leaves are dark green and male and female flowers are separated by about 2 inches of bare stem. Common cattail (T. latifolia L.) leaves are blue-green and the male flower portion is generally directly above the female flower portion.

Stems: stout, erect, may reach 5 foot (narrow-leaved) to 9 foot (common cattail) height

Leaves: dark green, reach 3 - 6 foot height, narrow, connected at base in sheaths

Roots: fleshy rootstocks

Flowers: form dense, fuzzy spikes on top of 3 - 6 foot stems, staminate (male) flowers lighter brown and located above female section; pistillate (female) flowers often green during bloom and dark brown during seed maturation, bloom May - June

Seeds: tiny nutlet, about 1 mm long, with downy hairs underneath

Seedling:

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

LIFE CYCLE

Reproduction: perennial

Propagation: seed, fleshy rootstocks

Dispersal:

DISTRIBUTION

State: Found in wetlands throughout Wisconsin.

National: Species of cattail are common in wetlands throughout the continental U.S.

Origin: native of North America

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Very common in wetlands, poorly drained soils, lake and river shores, marshes, and any other saturated soil. Often found growing along drainage ditches and reservoirs on cranberry marshes, occasionally found along bed edges and bed center ditches.

SCOUTING PROCEDURE/ET

While scouting a cranberry bed for disease and insect pests, identify weed populations as they arise. Note the specie(s) of weed present as well as the population level relative to field area. Example: 40% cattail, 10% boneset and joe-pye weed mix.

REFERENCES

Gleason, H. A. 1952. Illustrated Flora of the United States and Adjacent Canada. Vol 1. Lancaster Press, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. p. 70.

Kummer, L. D., T. G. Dittl, and T. D. Planer. 1993. Wisconsin Cranberry Weeds. Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. p. 15.

Lorenzi, H. J. and L. S. Jeffery. 1987. Weeds of the United States and Their Control. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, New York. p. 36.

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