Narrowleaf Cattail
Typha angustifolia L.
Typhaceae (Cattail Family)
▲ mature, flowering plants
▲ inflorescence
Cattail:
· perennial, emergent aquatic weed with rhizomes
· long, thin, tough-textured, upright growing leaves arising from ground-level stem; leaves grow 3-6 tall
· inflorescence a tall stalk with brown, velvety cylindrical structure near top, also 3-6' tall
· found bordering ponds, in wetland areas, along ditches
· two species common here—
· narrowleaf cattail
o leaves ½” wide or less, tending to twist as they go up
o inflorescences more slender than common cattail
o leaves ½-1.5” wide
o inflorescences usually 1” diameter or larger
Control: post-emergent, translocated herbicides; pulling, dredging; draining wet areas