Narrow-leaf cat-tail

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Narrow-leaf cat-tail

Narrow-leaf cat-tail

Narrow-leaf cat-tail

Narrow-leaf cat-tail

Narrow-leaf cat-tail seeding

Narrow-leaf cat-tail seeding

Morphology

Culm

Erect, slender, unbranched, round in cross-section, without nodes.

Leaves

Alternate, erect, long-linear, much longer than inflorescence, 1/5 to 1/2 inch wide, bluish-green to dark green, glabrous, convex on back.

Sheath

Closed, with auricles at summit.

Inflorescence

Spike, cylindrical, erect, slender, terminal, monoecious; staminate portion above, separated from pistillate portion by 1/2 to 3 inches of naked stalk; pistillate portion 3 to 8 inches long, 2/5 to 4/5 inch thick, dark brown.

Flower

Numerous, minute, packed densely together; perianth lacking; staminate bracts linear; pistillate flowers subtended by slender bracts darker brown than stigmas; stigmas linear, dark brown.

Fruit

Achene, spindle-shaped, numerous downy hairs at base, enclosing nut-like seeds.

Ecology

Habitat

Marshes, wetlands, pond edges, ditches, and along streams; tolerates deeper water than broad-leaf cat-tail and is more salt tolerant.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans mixed the pollen of the staminate spikes with ground wheat and ate as food. The leaves were used as roofing material and the silky down for pillow stuffing. Pioneers boiled and ate the young pistillate inflorescences.

Additional Notes