narrow-leaved cattail
(Typha angustifolia)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Origin
Native to Asia.
Appearance
Emergent, perennial, aquatic plant arising from rhizomes (underground stems) buried in the underwater substrate. The plant consists of a flowering stalk and 4 or more leaves. Grows approx. 1-2 m tall (approx. 3-7′).
Foliage
Leaves attach to rhizomes underwater. They are linear with pointed tips, smooth, green, stiff and may be slightly twisted; 0.5-1 cm wide (up to approx. 0.5″) and approx. 0.5-2 m long (approx. 1.5-6′).
Flowers
The flowering stalk is light green, smooth, stiff, round in cross-section and about as long as the leaves. Male and female flowers are densely packed in clusters around the end of the same flower stalk; male flowers are above and separated from the female flowers by a 0.5-12 cm gap (up to 4″). Male flowers disappear after shedding pollen.
Fruit
Female flowers develop into tiny seeds with light, soft, fluffy, hair-like attachments.
Ecological Threat
May form dense monocultures. The dense rhizome mats may close open water areas and compete with native wetland plants.
Native to Asia.
Appearance
Emergent, perennial, aquatic plant arising from rhizomes (underground stems) buried in the underwater substrate. The plant consists of a flowering stalk and 4 or more leaves. Grows approx. 1-2 m tall (approx. 3-7′).
Foliage
Leaves attach to rhizomes underwater. They are linear with pointed tips, smooth, green, stiff and may be slightly twisted; 0.5-1 cm wide (up to approx. 0.5″) and approx. 0.5-2 m long (approx. 1.5-6′).
Flowers
The flowering stalk is light green, smooth, stiff, round in cross-section and about as long as the leaves. Male and female flowers are densely packed in clusters around the end of the same flower stalk; male flowers are above and separated from the female flowers by a 0.5-12 cm gap (up to 4″). Male flowers disappear after shedding pollen.
Fruit
Female flowers develop into tiny seeds with light, soft, fluffy, hair-like attachments.
Ecological Threat
May form dense monocultures. The dense rhizome mats may close open water areas and compete with native wetland plants.
Resources
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- City of Ann Arbor Michigan Parks and Recreation
- Hoffman, R. & K. Kearns, Eds. 1997. Wisconsin manual of control recommendations for ecologically invasive plants. Wisconsin Dept. Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources. Madison, Wisconsin. 102pp.
- Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
- Indiana Pest Species
- Indiana Prohibited Plant Species
- Invasive Plant Association of Wisconsin
- Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
- Ohio Invasive Species Council
- Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
- Pennsylvania's Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
- To be proposed for MISC
- Wisconsin Noxious Weeds
- Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Lilianae |
| Order: Poales |
| Family: Typhaceae |
| Genus: Typha |
| Typha angustifolia |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.