Cat-tail
1 entry found.
Cat-tail
Common Name: Cat-tail, Bullrush
Botanical Name: Typha latifolia (TY-fa lat-i-FOL-ee-a)
Decorative Life: Many days, weeks, months to years, depending on use.
Post Harvest Care:
- Remove bottom leaves if present, recut stems under water and place in plain tap water containing regular household bleach at 20 drops (1/4 teaspoon) per quart.
Family Roots:
- Member of the Typhaceae (cat-tail family).
- Native to America, Europe and Asia.
Personality:
- Consists of tiny separate male and female flowers in dense terminal spikes.
- Stems up to 6-8 feet long, flower spikes are about 6-8 inches.
- Plant is a herbaceous perennial generally found in wet places with creeping rootstocks. Classed as a monocotyledon, leaves mostly parallel veined.
- No fragrance. Often used as a dried flower.
Availability: Fall - winter.
Flower Color: Brown.
Tidbits:
- In the flower spike, the male flowers are grouped above the female flowers in "zones". The specific epithet name "latifolia" means broad-leafed.
- Only one genus in this primitive plant family. Named used by Theophrastus for these and other swamp-like or aquatic plants.