Family Typhaceae

Family Typhaceae

Cat-tails (Typhaceae) are tall plants that grow in marshy areas. They have long blade-like leaves and stiff stems that have distinctive sausage-shaped flowering clusters at their tips. Each head consists of tightly packed female flowers below and a looser "tail" of male pollen-producing flowers on top. Cat-tails are sometimes used to make rush seats for chairs or in basket- weaving. [CH] {FW}