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Narrow-leaved Cattail
Typha angustifolia

There are two species of cattail in our area: narrow-leaved cattail and common cattail. Narrow-leaved cattail leaves are typically 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide; common cattail leaves are typically twice as wide (1/2 to 1 inch). But there's an easier way to distinguish them when a flowering spike is present. On narrow-leaved cattail, there is a gap of 1/2 to 5 inches between male and female flowers (see photo below left). Common cattail normally has no gap between male and female flowers.

• Family: Cattail (Typhaceae)
• Habitat: marshes, especially brackish marshes
• Height: 3-6 feet
• Flower size: tiny flowers in a cylindrical head around 1/2 inch across
• Flower color: brown
• Flowering time: May to July
• Origin: native

next green/brown flower
Typha angustifolia
Typha angustifolia

Last updated November 13, 2005. © 2005 Connecticut Botanical Society. All rights reserved.