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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Facts about Narrowleaf Cattail
    Herbs and Spices

    Facts about Narrowleaf Cattail

    By SylviaMarch 4, 2020Updated:March 4, 2020No Comments12 Mins Read
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    Typha angustifolia, commonly known as narrowleaf cattail, is a semi-aquatic, perennial plant of genus Typha belonging to Typhaceae (Cat-tail family). The plant is native to Nova Scotia south through parts of New England along the coast to southern Florida.  It occurs in the Midwest south to southeastern Texas. It has been planned that the species was introduced from Europe to North America. In North America, it is also supposed to have been introduced from coastal to inland locations. The plant has got several common names including Cattail, Lesser Bulrush, Lesser Reed-Mace, Nail- Rod, Narrow-Leaf Cattail, Narrowleaf Cattail, Reed-Mace, Small Reed-Mace, Small Bulrush and Cumbungi. The genus name Typha is the Greek name for the cattail. Angustifolia is from the Latin for “narrow leaf.” The author name for the plant classification of both species – ‘L.’ – refers to Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), Swedish botanist and the developer of the binomial nomenclature of modern taxonomy.

    Narrowleaf cattail is noted for attracting wildlife. Dense stands of cattails provide nesting areas and cover for many species of wetland animals plus their leaves provide nesting material for a number of different species of wetland birds including yellow-headed blackbirds, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, American coots, and various rails and bitterns. Narrowleaf cattail has year-round edible uses: (a) the peeled rhizomes can be cooked like potatoes or dried and made into protein-rich flour which can be added as a thickener for soups; (b) the young spring shoots are juicy with a nutty flavor and can be used as an asparagus substitute; (c) the young immature flowers can be boiled and eaten somewhat like corn on the cob; (d) the base of the leaves can be eaten like an artichoke; (e) the flowers can be eaten raw or cooked.

    Narrowleaf Cattail Facts

    Narrowleaf cattail Quick Facts
    Name: Narrowleaf cattail
    Scientific Name: Typha angustifolia
    Origin Nova Scotia south through parts of New England along the coast to southern Florida. It occurs in the Midwest south to southeastern Texas
    Colors Brown
    Shapes Dry, dehiscent, ellipsoid follicle with long hairs containing large numbers of small pendulous seeds, with a straight, narrow embryo
    Taste Sweet, acrid
    Health benefits Beneficial for kidney stones, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, post-partum pains, cancer of the lymphatic system, tapeworms, diarrhea, stomach cramps,difficult urination, chronic colitis, hemorrhoids
    Name Narrowleaf cattail
    Scientific Name Typha angustifolia
    Native Nova Scotia south through parts of New England along the coast to southern Florida.  It occurs in the Midwest south to southeastern Texas
    Common Names Cattail, Lesser Bulrush, Lesser Reed-Mace, Nail- Rod, Narrow-Leaf Cattail, Narrowleaf Cattail, Reed-Mace, Small Reed-Mace, Small Bulrush, Cumbungi
    Name in Other Languages Albanian: Shavar, shavari gjethengushtë
    Arabic : Bardî, Bût, Hhafâ’
    Argentina : Totora
    Armenian: Keron neghaterev (Կերոն նեղատերև)
    Australia : Cumbungi
    Basque: Lezka hostoestu
    Belgium : Kleine Lisdodde
    Brazil : Taboa
    Bulgarian: Tesnolisten papur (теснолистен папур)
    Catalan: Balca, Balca de fulla estreta, Boga de fulla estreta, Bova, Bova de cadires, Ciri, Coets, Espadanya, Fusel
    Chinese:  Shui zhu  (水燭), Pu Huang
    Colombia : Enea
    Corsican: Burra cascistretta
    Croatian: Uskolisni rogoz
    Czech: Orobincem uzkolistym, Orobinec úzkolisty
    Danish: Smalbladet Dunhammer, Kleine rietsigaar, fijne lisdodde, kleine lisdodde, kleinste lisdodde
    Dominican Republic : Enea
    Dutch: Kleine lisdodde
    English: Cattail, Lesser bulrush, Lesser reed-mace, Lesser-bulrush, Nailrod, Narrow-leaf cat-tail, Small reed-mace, Narrow-leaved cattail, Cumbungi, Small bulrush
    Esperanto : Tifao Malgranda, Tifao Mallarĝfolia
    Estonian : Ahtalehine Hundinui
    Fiji : Deniruve, Denisoqe
    Finnish : Kapeaosmankäämi, Kapealehtinen Osmankäämi, Osmankaeaemi
    French : Chandelle, Massette À Feuilles Étroites, Massette Des Étangs, Quenouilles, Quenouille À Feuilles Étroites, Typha à feuilles étroites
    Gaelic : Coigeal Chaol
    German : Schmalblättriger Rohrkolben, Schmaler Rohrkolben
    Greek: Vrakteiofóro psathí (βρακτειοφόρο ψαθί)
    Gujarati: Ghābājarīyu (ઘાબાજરીયુ)
    Hebrew: Suf tzar-‘alim, סוּף צַר-עָלִים
    Hindi: Era, gon, paan, parocito, pata, patar, pater, patera, pota
    Hungarian: Keskenylevelű gyékény
    India : Hogla, Pater
    Indonesia : Purun, Lembang
    Italian : Lisca A Foglie Strette, Mazza Sorda, Schianze, Stiancia Minore, Tifa A Foglie Strette
    Japanese : Hime Gama, Himegama , Hosobahimegama (ホソバヒメガマ)
    Kannada: Aane jondu, aanejondu, apu, jambu, jambu hullu, mungusibaala, naribaala
    Latvian: Saurlapu vilkvālīte
    Lithuanian: Siauralapis švendras
    Manx: Bossan
    Malaysia : Banat
    Malayalam: Aattudharbapullu, Chambu, Aanapullu, Champu, Payapullu
    Marathi: Pan-kanis, pun, motitrina, tambana
    Nepalese : Khar, Pater
    Netherlands: Kleine Lisdodde
    Norwegian : Smal Dunkjevle, Smalbladet Dunkjevle, Smalt Dunkjevle
    Occitan: Filouso, Paviho negro
    Philippines : Homay-homay, Lampakanay, Tubal-tubal, Kaidked, Balangot, Balangot
    Polish : Pałka Wąskolistna, Rogóżka
    Portuguese : Tabua-Estreita, Tabôa, capim-de-esteira, erva-de-esteira, espadana, landim, paina-de-flexa, paineira-de-fleza, paineira-do-brejo, partasana, pau-de-lagoa, Tabebuia, tabua
    Romanian: Papură îngustă
    Russian : Rogoz Uzkolistnyj (Рогоз узколистный)
    Sanskrit: Eraka, gundra, gundramula, sari, sivi, erakasaktuh
    Serbian: Uskolisni rogoz, тврди рогоз, усколисни рогоз
    Slovak: Pálka úzkolistá
    Slovene: Ozkolistni rogoz
    Slovascina : Rogoz Ozkolistni
    Spanish : Acena, Anea, Espadaña, Espadaña Común, Espadaña Estrecha, Espadona, Junco De La Pasion, Macio De Hoja Estrecha, Mazio, Paja De Estera, Paja De Sillas, Totora, Tutuvaco, Vato, suca,
    Swedish : Smalkaveldum, Kapeaosmankäämi
    Tamil: Sambu
    Telugu: Dabbu jambu, dabbujambu, jambu, jammu, neeti jambu, jammugaddi
    Thailand : Kok Chaang, Thoup Susi, Kkcĥāng (กกช้าง), Kkṭhūp (กกธูป), Ṭhūpvɨs̄ʹī (ธูปฤๅษี), Prụ̄x  (ปรือ), H̄ỵ̂ā s̄lāb h̄lwng, feụ̄̂x  (หญ้าสลาบหลวง, เฟื้อ)
    Tibetan: Ku ntha
    Turkish : Su Kam1sh, saz
    Ukrainian: Rohiz vuzʹkolystyy (Рогіз вузьколистий), rohiz yamchastyy  (рогіз ямчастий)
    Urdu: Bikh patera
    Uruguay : Totora
    Venezuela : Enea
    Vietnam : Bồn Bồn, Cỏ Nến, Thủy Hương, Hương bồ lá hẹp
    Welsh : Cynffon Y Gath Culddail, Cynffon Y Gath Leiaf, Ffon Y Plant, Ffynwewyr Ellyllon, Ffynwewyr Y Plant, Hesgen Felfedog, Hesgen
    Felfedog Goraidd, Hesgen Felfedog Leiaf, Rhodell, Rholbren,Tapr Y Dŵr
    Western Frisian: Lytse Tuorrebout
    Plant Growth Habit Erect, slender, marginal, rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial semi aquatic emergent herb
    Growing Climates Grows in shallow fresh water of lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, wet meadows, estuaries, bogs, ditches in valley marshes, coastal sites at low elevation, oxbow lakes, navigation canals, and natural freshwater and wetland systems (topogenous and soligenous mires, fens)
    Soil Occurs in peaty soils of salt marshes and colonizes deep sloughs and sloping marsh perimeters
    Plant Size About 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m) tall
    Root Sturdy, rhizomatous roots that can extend 27 inches and are typically ¾-1½ inches in diameter
    Stem Unbranched and cylindrical, 100–200 cm, with long (60–100 cm), linear, narrow leaves, 5–10 mm wide and deep green
    Leaf Plano-concave or plano-convex or strongly convex on the back, numbering <10 per stem, sheathing at the base and commonly overtopping the inflorescence
    Flowering season June to July
    Flower Monoecious (male and female flowers are produced on the same spike), with the male and female parts of each flower spike being separated by a gap of 1/ 2 to 3 inches.
    Fruit Shape & Size Dry, dehiscent, ellipsoid follicle with long hairs containing large numbers of small pendulous seeds, with a straight, narrow embryo
    Fruit Color Brown
    Propagation By seed and rhizomes
    Plant Parts used Pollen, Rhizome, root
    Seed Dry straw-colored and surrounded by the pistillate hair
    Taste Sweet, acrid
    Precautions Avoid use during Pregnancy.

    Plant Description

    Narrowleaf cattail is an erect, slender, marginal, rhizomatous, herbaceous, perennial semi aquatic emergent herb that normally grows about 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m) tall, often forming, over time, dense stands of robust spreading vegetation. The plant is found growing in shallow fresh water of lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, wet meadows, estuaries, bogs, ditches in valley marshes, coastal sites at low elevation, oxbow lakes, navigation canals, and natural freshwater and wetland systems (topogenous and soligenous mires, fens). The plant occurs in peaty soils of salt marshes and colonizes deep sloughs and sloping marsh perimeters. The plant has sturdy, rhizomatous roots that can extend 27 inches and are typically ¾-1½ inches in diameter.

    Stems

    Stems are erect and range from 3 to 9 feet high. Just below the inflorescence the stem of T. angustifolia is 2 to 3 mm thick. The middle stem section of T. angustifolia is only 5 – 12 mm thick.

    Leaves

    T. angustifolia has narrower leaves of up to 1/2 inch wide, rounded and thicker on the back side and the tops of leaf sheaths have membranous auricles. Leaves are attached near the base of the stem and overlap each other at the attachment points. Leaves are plano-concave or plano-convex or strongly convex on the back, numbering <10 per stem, sheathing at the base and commonly overtopping the inflorescence. Leaves are not edible but may be woven into mats, seats and baskets.

    Flower

    Flowers are monoecious (male and female flowers are produced on the same spike), with the male and female parts of each flower spike being separated by a gap of 1/ 2 to 3 inches. Slender upper spike has male flowers only with these flowers being shed soon after pollination. The lower spike has female flowers only, green when young but maturing to brown. After bloom, the male flowers rapidly disperse, leaving a naked stalk tip.

    Fruit

    The pollinated female flowers turn brown as the seeds mature, forming the familiar cylindrical, sausage-like, cattail fruiting spike (to 9 inches long in this species). This plant produces a phenomenal amount of seed (to 200,000 seeds per spike). Male flower spikes die and drop off, leaving the familiar brown female spike or cat tail that progressively dries and falls apart with its seed clumps scattering to the wind. Feather-like plumes of tiny brown hairs attached to each seed aid in this dispersal.

    Narrowleaf Cattail Image Gallery
    Leaves-of-Narrowleaf-cattail Leaves-of-Narrowleaf-cattail
    Narrowleaf-cattail-on-the-plant Narrowleaf-cattail-on-the-plant
    Narrow-leaved-cattail-farming
    Plant-Illustration-of-Narrowleaf-cattail Plant-Illustration-of-Narrowleaf-cattail
    Seeds-of-Narrowleaf-cattail Seeds-of-Narrowleaf-cattail
    Sketch-of-Narrowleaf-Cattail Sketch-of-Narrowleaf-Cattail

    Traditional uses and benefits of Narrowleaf cattail

    • In India, the species is used as a refrigerant, an aphrodisiac and a cure for dysuria.
    • Typha angustifolia is mainly used in folk remedies for the treatment of tumors, as anticoagulant, astringent, sedative and tonics.
    • Whole inflorescence is used in the healing of wounds.
    • Stamens (without the pollen) are used in China as an astringent for dysentery and for hemorrhage of the bowels.
    • The stamens, with the pollen, are also used as an astringent and styptic.
    • Pollen was used as substitute for powder of licopodio and that the hairs or seeds were used against burns.
    • The pollen is diuretic, emmenogogue and hemostatic.
    • Dried pollen is said to be anticoagulant, but when roasted with charcoal it becomes hemostatic.
    • It is used internally in the treatment of kidney stones, internal hemorrhage of almost any kind, painful menstruation, abnormal uterine bleeding, postpartum pains, abscesses and cancer of the lymphatic system.
    • Externally, it is used in the treatment of tapeworms, diarrhea and injuries.
    • In North America, the Malecite and Mimac tribes used the roots for treatment of kidney stones.
    • Decoction of the root in the treatment of venereal diseases and the Xosas use it to aid in the expulsion of placenta.
    • angustifolia was listed one of several traditional Chinese medicinal herbs used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea through the use of combination-herbal-formula therapeutics with minimal side effects.
    • Pollen of Typha angustifolia has been used traditionally for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, stranguria and metrorrhagia in China.
    • An infusion of the root has been used in the treatment of gravel.
    • Tea of roots and leaves used for stomach cramps.
    • In Chinese medicine, used for angina, brain clots, high lipids, difficult urination, chronic colitis, hemorrhoids, boils, rash in infants.
    • In South Africa used to treat male fertility problems.

    Culinary Uses

    • Several parts of the plant are edible, including dormant sprouts on the roots and bases of the leaves, ripe pollen, the stem and the starchy roots.
    • Roots can be consumed raw or cooked.
    • They can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield sweet syrup.
    • Roots can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups, etc. or added to cereal flours, and this protein rich powder is used to make biscuits, etc.
    • Young shoots are eaten in spring raw or cooked.
    • The base of the mature stem is also edible raw or cooked.
    • The tender, young flowering stem is also edible raw, cooked or prepare into a soup.
    • The pollen is edible raw, cooked or processed into a protein rich additive to flour used in making bread, porridge, etc.
    • Small seed is edible roasted or cooked and edible oil can be obtained from the seed.
    • They can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield sweet syrup.
    • The roots can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc. or added to cereal flours.
    • Rich in protein, this powder is used to make biscuits etc.
    • It can also be eaten with the young flowers, which makes it considerably easier to utilize.
    • The pollen can be harvested by placing the flowering stem over a wide but shallow container and then gently tapping the stem and brushing the pollen off with a fine brush.
    • This will help to pollinate the plant and thus ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested.
    • Core of young flower shoots are tender and can be eaten raw, with a taste of cucumbers.
    • Green flower stems cooked on the stick and eaten like corn-on-a-cob.

    Other Facts

    • Plant is a good source of biomass, making a superior addition to the compost heap or used as a source of fuel, etc.
    • The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows.
    • They have good insulating and buoyancy properties.
    • The female flowers make excellent tinder and can be lit from the spark of a flint.
    • Stems and leaves have many uses, they make a good thatch, can be used in making paper, can be woven into mats, chairs, hats etc.
    • The pollen is highly inflammable and is used in making fireworks.
    • This plants extensive root system makes it very good for stabilizing wet banks of rivers, lakes etc.
    • A single inflorescence can produce 20,000 to 700,000 small single-seeded fruits.
    • T. angustifolia could be used for heavy metal phytoremediation from metal containing industrial wastewater.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=42325#null

    https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=40799

    https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?latinname=Typha+angustifolia

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/54294

    http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287386

    http://www.floracatalana.net/typha-angustifolia-l-

    https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TYAN

    https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/typang/all.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha_angustifolia

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/TYHAN

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-270931

    https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/258733

    http://envis.frlht.org/plantdetails/ac98df37b6c6ba88210a9b799f3a5d32/dd7d270956bf00c3a270e8f44d2e177d

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    Narrowleaf cattail Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Typha angustifolia

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Super Division Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Liliopsida (Monocotyledons)
    Sub Class Commelinidae
    Super Order Lilianae  (monocots, monocotyledons, monocotylédones)
    Order Typhales
    Family Typhaceae (Cat-tail family)
    Genus Typha L. (cattail)
    Species Typha angustifolia L. (narrowleaf cattail)
    Synonyms
    • Massula angustifolia (L.) Dulac
    • Typha angustifolia f. foveolata (Pobed.) Mavrodiev
    • Typha angustifolia f. submersa Glück
    • Typha angustifolia var. calumetensis Peattie
    • Typha angustifolia var. elatior (Boenn.) Godr.
    • Typha angustifolia var. elatior (Boenn.) Nyman
    • Typha angustifolia var. elongata Wiegand
    • Typha angustifolia var. longispicata Peck
    • Typha angustifolia var. spathacea Borbás
    • Typha elatior Boenn.
    • Typha foveolata Pobed.
    • Typha glauca Seg.-Vianna
    • Typha gracilis Rchb.
    • Typha latifolia var. minor Ambrosi
    • Typha media C.C.Gmel.
    • Typha minor Curtis
    • Typha pontica Klokov f. & Krasnova
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