Cattail

Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifola); taken in the Merrimack Canal wasteway

There are three types of cattails that are common to New England. All of these varieties can be found in Lowell. There is the broadleaf variety (typha latifola, also called the common cattail), the narrowleaf variety (typha angustifolia), and a species that is a hybrid of the broad- and narrowleaf strains (Typha x glauca).

Cattails are good for river ecosystems, as their roots keep the soil along the banks from eroding. Fish, birds and insects all use cattail plants for shelter. Their roots can even remove certain pollutants from any nearby water!

There are few visual differences between these species beyond the length and width of their stems, leaves and flowers. However, narrowleaf and hybrid cattails are more common. These species can grow in wetlands like the broadleaf, but can also grow in ditches and stormwater basins, allowing them to survive more easily in urban environments. While the cattail is not endangered, until recently it had stopped growing in Lowell. However, the canals and wasteways provide artificial wetlands for these species to grow and flower.

 

FUN FACT

Native peoples and early colonists used various parts of the cattails for food - the shoots, flower spikes, rootstock, and sprouts are all edible if prepared properly!