Typha latifolia

Typha latifolia, a perennial herbaceous wetland plant from the genus Typha, goes by common names like bulrush (or common bulrush) and, in North America, broadleaf cattail. Its native range spans most of Eurasia and North America, with more localized populations in Africa and South America. The plant's genome was sequenced in 2022.

Description

Reaching heights of 1.5 to 3 meters (5–10 feet), it has leaves 2–4 centimeters (¾–1½ inches) wide and typically grows in water depths of 0.75 to 1 meter (2–3 feet). The leaves are deciduous, emerging in spring and dying back in autumn.

A dense flower cluster forms at the top of the stem, with female flowers below and a male tassel above; these two sections are contiguous, unlike in Typha angustifolia, where a bare stem gap of 3–8 cm separates them. Flowering occurs from June to July, after which the male portion drops off, leaving the female part to develop into the familiar brown, sausage-shaped seed head. These heads persist through winter, breaking up in spring to release tiny, hair-borne seeds for wind dispersal.

Carl Linnaeus first described the species in 1753. It naturally hybridizes with Typha laxmannii to produce Typha × smirnovii.

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native across Canada (all provinces, plus Yukon and Northwest Territories) and every U.S. state except Hawaii. It is considered an introduced, invasive, noxious weed in Australia and Hawaii, and has been reported in Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines (where it is called Soli-soli). It thrives in tropical, subtropical, temperate, humid coastal, and dry continental climates, from sea level up to 2,300 meters (7,500 feet).

As an obligate wetland species, it is always found in or near water, usually in flooded areas less than 0.8 meters (2½ feet) deep, though it can grow on floating mats in slightly deeper water. It prefers fresh water but tolerates slightly brackish marshes; if salinity drops, it can aggressively displace native salt marsh species. It shares its range with related species and hybridizes with Typha angustifolia to form Typha × glauca, typically occupying shallower water than its narrow-leaved relative.

Uses

Traditionally, certain indigenous cultures of British Columbia used the plant for food, medicine, and other purposes. The rhizomes are edible after cooking and peeling; peeled stems and leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked. Young flower spikes, shoots, and rootstock sprouts are also edible, and pollen from mature cones serves as a flavoring. Native Americans ground the starchy rootstalks into meal.

However, plants from polluted water should not be eaten, as the species absorbs pollutants and is used in bioremediation; any specimen with a very bitter or spicy taste should be avoided. In Greece, dried plants are used for weaving traditional chair seats, harvested in summer and dried for 40–50 days. In San Francisco, Camotes Islands, Philippines, the plant (Soli-soli) is woven into mats, bags, hats, and other accessories, supporting a local livelihood and cultural expression. The town holds an annual Soli-soli Festival around March 19, honoring Saint Joseph, with costumes often made entirely from woven Soli-soli.

Common names

Other common names include great reedmace, common cattail, cat-o'-nine-tails, cooper's reed, and cumbungi.