Common Cattail

Description:

In early spring, the male, staminate flowers appear above the female, pistillate flowers on the same stalk. The female flowers produce long hairs that easily catch and hold the wind-borne pollen. After pollination, the staminate portion of the stalk disintegrates, leaving behind the “cattail” with which we are most familiar.

Habitat:

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , HI , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY Canada: BC , NB , NL , NS , ON , PE Native Distribution: Nearly cosmopolitan throughout N. America, especially inland Native Habitat: Cattails are considered a sign of a transitional environment because they grow where land is changing from a wet to dry habitat. Creating dense monocultures, their aggressive behavior often requires management much like weeds. Cattails occur in freshwater wetlands, from sea level to 7,000 ft, usually in water not greater than 8” deep. They can also survive in constantly damp soil without standing water. Where most plants are concerned with getting enough water, cattails face the unusual challenge of getting enough oxygen. This plant has creatively evolved leaves with large air vessels that transfer the needed oxygen to the submerged rhizome.

Notes:

Spotted in a detention/retention drainage area next to a mining operation in Kennesaw, GA