Typha angustifolia (Narrow-Leaved Cattail) - photos and description
Male flowers in above photo.
Male flowers in above photo.
Female flowers in above photo.
Female flowers in above photo.
There is a gap between the male and female flowers, on this plant the
gap was 3 cm long.
Leaf of Typha latifolia at top of photo is 20 mm wide, leaf of Typha
angustifolia below is 6 mm wide.
General: Marsh or aquatic plant with a round stem and long leaves. Rhizomatous, often found in large colonies. Plants glabrous.
Flowers: Flowers in terminal spikes, male flowers above the female flowers. The male flower spike is light brown, the female spike is dark brown. There is a gap of several centimetres between the male and female flowers, we measured this gap at 3 cm long. The male flowers blow away once their pollen is shed, the female flower spike is persistent over the summer. A male flower spike was measured at 18 cm long by 15 mm wide, and a female flower spike was measured at 15 cm long and 10 mm wide.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, sheath the stem, the edges rolled in slightly. We measured a leaf at 85 cm long by 10 mm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 3 m, we measured plants to 217 cm tall.
Habitat: Slough margins, riverbanks, marshes, lakeshores.
Abundance: Uncommon.
Origin: Introduced.
Similar species: This plant is very similar to
Typha latifolia (Common
Cattail), and the two species can be found in wetlands growing alongside one another.
- T. angustifolia has a gap of several centimetres between its
male and female flowers, while T. latifolia has no gap between
its male and female flowers.
- T. angustifolia has narrow leaves growing to 1 cm wide, while
T. latifolia has wider leaves growing to 3 cm wide.
- More generally, T. angustifolia grows taller than, and looks more slender than T. latifolia.
When and where photographed: Took the above photos July 6th in a marsh about 45 km southeast of our home in Regina, SK.