Difference between revisions of "Typha" - New World Encyclopedia
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and the spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated [[marshland]] and eventually dry land. | and the spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated [[marshland]] and eventually dry land. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The disintegrating heads are used by some birds to line their nests. | ||
''Typha'' plants grow along lake margins and in marshes, often in dense colonies, and are sometimes considered a weed in managed wetlands. The plant's root systems help prevent [[erosion]], and the plants themselves are often home to many insects, birds and [[amphibia]]ns. | ''Typha'' plants grow along lake margins and in marshes, often in dense colonies, and are sometimes considered a weed in managed wetlands. The plant's root systems help prevent [[erosion]], and the plants themselves are often home to many insects, birds and [[amphibia]]ns. | ||
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==Overview and description== | ==Overview and description== | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 1077.JPG|thumb|''Typha'' seeds are very small, embedded in down parachutes, and very effectively wind-dispersed]] | ||
The ''Typha'' genus is placed in the Typhaceae family. The [[APG II system]], of 2003 (unchanged from the [[APG system]], 1998), assigns this family to the order [[Poales]] in the clade [[commelinids]], in the [[monocot]]s. The [[Cronquist system]], of 1981, also recognized such a family and placed it in the order [[Typhales]], in the subclass [[Commelinidae]] in class [[Liliopsida]] in division [[Magnoliophyta]]. While some taxonomies recognize Typhaceae as being monogeneric, including only ''Typha''', some classifications now include the genus ''Sparganium'' in Typhaceae, whereas previously it was placed alone in the family [[Sparganiaceae]]. Members of ''Sparganium'' also are [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[marsh plant]]s and are known as bur-reeds. | The ''Typha'' genus is placed in the Typhaceae family. The [[APG II system]], of 2003 (unchanged from the [[APG system]], 1998), assigns this family to the order [[Poales]] in the clade [[commelinids]], in the [[monocot]]s. The [[Cronquist system]], of 1981, also recognized such a family and placed it in the order [[Typhales]], in the subclass [[Commelinidae]] in class [[Liliopsida]] in division [[Magnoliophyta]]. While some taxonomies recognize Typhaceae as being monogeneric, including only ''Typha''', some classifications now include the genus ''Sparganium'' in Typhaceae, whereas previously it was placed alone in the family [[Sparganiaceae]]. Members of ''Sparganium'' also are [[Perennial plant|perennial]] [[marsh plant]]s and are known as bur-reeds. | ||
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==Uses== | ==Uses== | ||
| − | ===Culinary uses=== | + | ====Culinary uses==== |
| − | Cattail has a wide variety of parts that are edible to humans. The [[rhizomes]] are a pleasant, nutritious and energy-rich food source, generally harvested from late Fall to early Spring. | + | Cattail has a wide variety of parts that are edible to humans. The [[rhizomes]] are a pleasant, nutritious, and energy-rich food source, generally harvested from late Fall to early Spring. The roots can be quite nutritious, containing more [[protein]] than [[rice]] and more [[starch]] than [[potato]]es (DOE). While [[starch]]y, they also are fibrous, so the starch must be scraped or sucked from the tough fibers. In addition to the rhizomes, cattails have little-known, underground, lateral stems that are quite tasty. In late spring, the bases of the leaves, while they are young and tender, can be eaten raw or cooked. As the flower spike is developing in early summer, it can be broken off and eaten, and in mid-summer, once the flowers are mature, the [[pollen]] can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener. |
| + | |||
| + | The roots also have been used medicinally for treatment fo intestinal disorders and burns (DOE). | ||
| − | === | + | ====Building materials and stuffing==== |
| − | + | Cattail leaves have been woven into mats, chair seats, and furniture and the pulp and fibers made into string and paper. | |
| − | |||
| − | Native American tribes | + | Native American tribes used cattail down to line [[moccasins]] and [[Cradle board|papoose boards]]. An Indian name for cattail meant, “fruit for papoose’s bed.” Today some people still use cattail down to stuff clothing items and pillows. If using the cattail for pillow stuffing, it is suggested to use thick batting material, as the fluff may cause a skin reaction similar to [[urticaria]]. |
The down has also been used to fill [[Personal flotation device|life vests]] in the same manner as [[kapok]]. | The down has also been used to fill [[Personal flotation device|life vests]] in the same manner as [[kapok]]. | ||
| − | + | ===Other uses=== | |
| + | Cattails can be used for the creation of ethanol. Furthermore, cattails do not require much, if any, maintenance (Heldreth 2008). | ||
| − | + | The downy material was also used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]]s as [[tinder]] for starting fires. | |
| − | + | ||
| + | Cattains have been cultivated as ornamental pond plants and used in dried flower arrangements. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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| − | + | .<ref>{{cite news |last=Heldreth |first=David |date=August 11, 2008 |work=Blue Mountain Eagle |location=Grant County, Oregon |url=http://bioenergy.checkbiotech.org/news/2008-08-11/Cattails_can_be_ethanol_source/ |title=Cattails can be Ethanol Source |accessdate=2008-08-21}}</ref> | |
Revision as of 22:08, 14 December 2008
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 Typha latifolia
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See text |
Typha is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants in the Typhaceae family, characterized by long, spongy, strap-like leaves, clusters of minute flowers arranged in a dense, cylindrical spike, and the corresponding minute fruits in the form of a cylindrical, brown, furry spike. These reedy, wind-pollinated marsh plants are are variously known as cattails, bulrushes (or bullrushes), reedmaces (or reed maces), and club rushes. They are common in wetland areas in temperate and cold regions of both Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
and the spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated marshland and eventually dry land.
The disintegrating heads are used by some birds to line their nests.
Typha plants grow along lake margins and in marshes, often in dense colonies, and are sometimes considered a weed in managed wetlands. The plant's root systems help prevent erosion, and the plants themselves are often home to many insects, birds and amphibians.
Overview and description
The Typha genus is placed in the Typhaceae family. The APG II system, of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system, 1998), assigns this family to the order Poales in the clade commelinids, in the monocots. The Cronquist system, of 1981, also recognized such a family and placed it in the order Typhales, in the subclass Commelinidae in class Liliopsida in division Magnoliophyta. While some taxonomies recognize Typhaceae as being monogeneric, including only Typha', some classifications now include the genus Sparganium in Typhaceae, whereas previously it was placed alone in the family Sparganiaceae. Members of Sparganium also are perennial marsh plants and are known as bur-reeds.
About 15 species in the Typha genus have been described (Apfelbaum). These monocotyledonous flowering plants has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but their distribution is essentially cosmopolitan, being found in a variety of wetland habitats. These plants are known in British English as bulrush, bullrush, or reedmace (Sterry and Sterry 2008), and in American English as cattail, punks, or corndog grass. Cattails should not be confused with the bulrush of the genus Scirpus.
Cattails are wetland plants, typically 1 to 7 meters (3-23 feet) tall, with spongy, strap-like leaves and starchy, creeping stems (rhizomes). T. minima is the smallest species, being from 0.5 to 1 meter (1.5-3 feet) in height. The leaves of Typha species are alternate and mostly basal to a simple, jointless stem that eventually bears the flowers. The rhizomes spread horizontally beneath the surface of muddy ground to start new upright growth.
Typha plants are monoecious, wind-pollinated, and bear unisexual flowers developing in dense, complex spikes. The male flower spike develops at the top of the vertical stem, above the female flower spike. The male (staminate) flowers are reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs and wither once the pollen is shed, leaving a short, bare stem portion above the female inflorescence. The dense cluster of female flowers forms a cylindrical spike some 10 to as much as 40 centimeters (4-15.7 inches) long and 1 to 4 centimeters (0.4-1.6 inches) broad. Seeds are minute (about 0.2 millimeters long or 0.008 inches), and attached to a thin hair or stalk, which effects wind dispersal. Typha are often among the first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud.
Species
The following are some of the about 15 species in Typha.
- Typha angustifolia - Lesser bulrush or narrow leaf cattail
- Typha angustifolia x T. latifolia - Hybrid or white cattail
- Typha domingensis - Southern cattail
- Typha latifolia - Common cattail
- Typha laxmannii - Laxman's bulrush
- Typha minima - Dwarf bulrush
- Typha orientalis and Typha muelleri - Raupo
- Typha shuttleworthii - Shuttleworth's bulrush
The most widespread species is Typha latifolia, the common cattail, extending across the entire temperate Northern Hemisphere. T. angustifolia is nearly as widespread, but does not extend so far north. T. domingensis is a more southerly American species, extending from the U.S. to South America, while T. laxmannii, T. minima, and T. shuttleworthii are largely restricted to Asia and parts of southern Europe.
The three extant species found in North America are Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Typha domigensis (Apfelbaum). These native cattails are increasingly being supplanted by the invasive purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.
Uses
Culinary uses
Cattail has a wide variety of parts that are edible to humans. The rhizomes are a pleasant, nutritious, and energy-rich food source, generally harvested from late Fall to early Spring. The roots can be quite nutritious, containing more protein than rice and more starch than potatoes (DOE). While starchy, they also are fibrous, so the starch must be scraped or sucked from the tough fibers. In addition to the rhizomes, cattails have little-known, underground, lateral stems that are quite tasty. In late spring, the bases of the leaves, while they are young and tender, can be eaten raw or cooked. As the flower spike is developing in early summer, it can be broken off and eaten, and in mid-summer, once the flowers are mature, the pollen can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener.
The roots also have been used medicinally for treatment fo intestinal disorders and burns (DOE).
Building materials and stuffing
Cattail leaves have been woven into mats, chair seats, and furniture and the pulp and fibers made into string and paper.
Native American tribes used cattail down to line moccasins and papoose boards. An Indian name for cattail meant, “fruit for papoose’s bed.” Today some people still use cattail down to stuff clothing items and pillows. If using the cattail for pillow stuffing, it is suggested to use thick batting material, as the fluff may cause a skin reaction similar to urticaria.
The down has also been used to fill life vests in the same manner as kapok.
Other uses
Cattails can be used for the creation of ethanol. Furthermore, cattails do not require much, if any, maintenance (Heldreth 2008).
The downy material was also used by Native Americans as tinder for starting fires.
Cattains have been cultivated as ornamental pond plants and used in dried flower arrangements.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
Cattail (Typha spp.) Management Steven I. Apfelbaum Applied Ecological Services Brodhead, Wisconsi http://www.appliedeco.com/Projects/CattailManage.pdf
.[1]
Department of Ecology, State of Washington
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/Programs/wq/plants/native/cattail.html
Native Freshwater Plants
Cattail; a common and useful native plant
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=42324 Typha L. Taxonomic Serial No.: 42324 1999 ITIS
Sterry, Paul, and Paul Sterry. 2008. Collins complete guide to British wildlife: a photographic guide to every common species. Complete British guides. London: Collins. ISBN 9780007236831.
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- ↑ Heldreth, David, "Cattails can be Ethanol Source", Blue Mountain Eagle, August 11, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
