COMMON CATTAIL

The cattail is a marsh plant that grows up to eight feet in height. The soft flower blossom that turns brown in the fall is four to six inches long located near the top of the stem. It contains many fluffy seeds that are released when the outer covering bursts.

The cattail marsh provides excellent cover for waterfowl and wild animals like raccoon, muskrat, mink and otter. Muskrats prize the plant for food and use the stalks in ledge construction. In recent years, much cattail growth in the Historic Triangle marshes has disappeared because of either pollution, crop spraying or excessive siltage.

Both Indians and colonists utilized cattail roots for food and used the leaves to weave baskets or chair seats. The stalks were mixed in the daub of home construction to strengthen roofs and walls.