Typha latifolia

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Cladus: Commelinids
Ordo: Poales

Familia: Typhaceae
Genus: Typha
Species: Typha latifolia
Name

Typha latifolia L., 1753.
Hybrids

Typha × argoviensis Hausskn. ex Asch. & Graebn.
Typha × smirnovii Mavrodiev

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 971.

Vernacular names
العربية: بوط عريض الأوراق
žemaitėška: Plačialapis švendrs
brezhoneg: Korz-mor-ledan
català: Boga de fulla ampla
Tsetsêhestâhese: Vétánó'êstse
kaszëbsczi: Wòdnô baszka
čeština: Orobinec širokolistý, orobinec širolistý
Cymraeg: Cynffon y Gath
dansk: Bredbladet Dunhammer
Deutsch: Breitblättriger Rohrkolben
dolnoserbski: Wětša rogož
English: Bulrush
español: Anea
eesti: Laialehine hundinui
euskara: Lezka hostozabal
فارسی: بوربا
suomi: Leveäosmankäämi
Nordfriisk: Lonten
français: Massette à larges feuilles
Frysk: Grutte Tuorrebout
Gaelg: Bossan doo
hrvatski: Rogoz
hornjoserbsce: Šěroka rohodź
magyar: Széleslevelű gyékény, bodnározó gyékény
italiano: Tifa
日本語: ガマ、蒲
한국어: 부들
lietuvių: Plačialapis švendras
norsk bokmål: Bred dunkjevle
Nedersaksies: Grote lampepoetser
Nederlands: Grote lisdodde
norsk nynorsk: Breitt dunkjevle
norsk: Bred dunkjevle
ирон: Бийыны хъæз
polski: Pałka szerokolistna
پنجابی: دب
română: Papură
русский: Рогоз широколистный
slovenčina: Pálka širokolistá
slovenščina: Širokolistni rogoz
svenska: Bredkaveldun
українська: Рогіз широколистий
中文（简体）: 宽叶香蒲
中文（繁體）: 寬葉香蒲
中文（臺灣）: 寬葉香蒲
中文: 宽叶香蒲

Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail,[4] bulrush, common bulrush, common cattail, cat-o'-nine-tails, great reedmace, cooper's reed, cumbungi) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Typha. It is found as a native plant species in North and South America, Europe, Eurasia, and Africa.[5] In Canada, broadleaf cattail occurs in all provinces and also in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and in the United States, it is native to all states except Hawaii.[6][7] It is an introduced and invasive species, and is considered a noxious weed, in Australia and Hawaii.[8] It has been reported in, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.[5]

Description

The plant is 1.5 to 3 metres (5 to 10 feet) high and it has 2–4 cm (¾ to 1½ inch) broad leaves, and will generally grow out in to 0.75 to 1 metre (2 to 3 feet) of water depth.
Distribution

Typha latifolia has been found in a variety of climates, including tropical, subtropical, southern and northern temperate, humid coastal, and dry continental.[7] It is found at elevations from sea level to 7,500 feet (2,300 m).

T. latifolia is an "obligate wetland" species, meaning that it is always found in or near water.[9] The species generally grows in flooded areas where the water depth does not exceed 2.6 feet (0.8 meters),[10] but has also been reported growing in floating mats in slightly deeper water.[7] T. latifolia grows mostly in fresh water but also occurs in slightly brackish marshes.[9] The species can displace other species native to salt marshes upon reduction in salinity. Under such conditions the plant may be considered aggressive since it interferes with preservation of the salt marsh habitat.[9][11]

T. latifolia shares its range with other related species, and hybridizes with Typha angustifolia, narrow-leaf cattail, to form Typha × glauca (T. angustifolia × T. latifolia), white cattail.[7] Common cattail is usually found in shallower water than narrow-leaf cattail.
Uses

Traditionally, Typha latifolia has been a part of certain indigenous cultures of British Columbia, as a source of food, medicine, and for other uses. The rhizomes are edible after cooking and removing the skin, while peeled stems and leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked. The young flower spikes, young shoots, and sprouts at the end of the rootstocks are edible as well.[12][13][14] The pollen from the mature cones can be used as a flavoring.[15] The starchy rootstalks are ground into meal by Native Americans.[13]

While Typha latifolia grows all over, including in rural areas, it is not advisable to eat specimens deriving from polluted water as it absorbs pollutants and in fact is used as a bioremediator. Specimens with a very bitter or spicy taste should not be eaten.[16]

References

Lansdown, R.V. (2017). "Typha latifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T164165A84300723. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T164165A84300723.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
Tropicos, Typha latifolia
The Plant List, Typha latifolia
"Typha latifolia". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
"Typha latifolia (aquatic plant)", Global Invasive Species Database. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
Flora of North America vol 22 p 282.
"Typha latifolia, U.S. Forest Service Fire Effects Information Database", U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 2011-02-20
"Typha latifolia (Typhaceae) Species description or overview", Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR). Retrieved 2011-02-21.
"USDA Plant Guide: Typha latifolia", United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
"Broadleaf Cattail", Utah State University Cooperative Extension. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
"Can Native Plants be Invasive?".
Turner, Nancy J. Food Plants of Interior First Peoples (Victoria: UBC Press, 1997) ISBN 0-7748-0606-0
Niering, William A.; Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region. Knopf. p. 810. ISBN 0-394-50432-1.
Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC 244766414.
Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC 668195076.
YouTube - Wild Living with Sunny: episode 4 Video describing collection and cooking of common cattail.