Cattails

[Typha latifolia (Common Cattail, Broadleaf Cattail) | Typha angustifolia (Narrowleaf Cattail) | other species of genus Typha in family Typhaceae]

Cattails are a dominant feature of many wetland environments worldwide, and can be very difficult to control invasives. T. latifolia, the most widespread species, is considered a troublesome invasive in Hawaii and Australia. T. orientalis is native to all of Australia and New Zealand.

Cattail flowers are two part: a male spike at the top, and a sausage shaped female flowerhead below it. The female flowerhead matures, then bursts into many thousands of wind-born seeds. The two most widespread species can easily be told apart if flowering. T. angustifolia has a space between the male and female spikes, while T. latifolia has no space. Photo of T. latifolia by AnRo0002 distributed under license Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

All parts of cattail plants are edible during one or more stages of maturity.

Cattail Stems & Leaf Bases

[Bon bon (Viet); "Cossack Asparagus"]

Stems and leaf bases are edible, prepared in various ways. The Russian Cossacks have long eaten them raw or boiled. While called "Cossack Asparagus", the flavor has been reported more like cucumber. The photo specimens, "Bon Bon Chua Ngot" (probably T. angustifolia), were pickled, a product of Vietnam. They were mild and lightly crunchy. Ingred: cattail, water, sugar, salt, vinegar, chili, preservative (E202 (potassium sorbate)).

Cattail Rhizomes

These have been eaten in Europe for at least 30,000 years. They are very nutritious with a protein content similar to corn or rice. They are often dried and ground into flour, but can be cooked similarly to potatoes.

Cattail Flower Spikes

Pollen from the male spikes is used as a flour enhancer and thickener, and in the marshes of southern Iraq in a dessert called Khirret (T. domingensis). In Chile, immature female flower spikes have long been battered and cooked on the stem, often called "Wild Corn Dogs" (T. angustifolia). Immature female spikes have been used in many other ways in other cultures.

Health & Nutrition:

Rhizomes of Cattail should not be eaten if they are grown in poluted water, as they can concentrate lead, arsenic and pesticide residus. One species, Typha domingensis, found worldwide in temperate and tropical climates, has been found extremely efficient (to 98%) at removing disease causing enterobacteria (from animal intestines) from agricultural water.

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