Cat Tail
Typha sp.

Origin: Native

Description
The two most common cattails found in East Coast wetlands, are the narrow-leaved and broad-leaved cattails.

Typha angustifolia, narrow-leaved cattail, is commonly found in brackish and freshwater marshes. It has narrow leaves (about 1 to 2 cm wide), and the characteristic flower spike has a distinct gap between the upper, male portion (staminate) and the lower, female (pistillate) portion. In brackish marshes, narrow-leaved cattails are typically found in dense colonies along the upland margin where there is freshwater seepage.

The broad-leaved cattail, Typha latifolia, is more common in freshwater marshes. This species has no (or only a slight) gap between the staminate and pistillate portions of the spike and has leaves up to 3.5 cm wide.

In the spring, the young emerging cattail plant can be eaten. Slightly later in the season, in late April or early May, the tender developing spike is also edible. It reaches full development by June. After the flower spike is mature (after it extends above the leaves), it becomes tough and inedible. Many people consider the young plant and its tender spike to be delicacies.