Cattail
Scientific Name: Typha latifolia
Description
The common Cattail can be found in swamps, marshes, wet ditches and lakes. It grows in saturated soil or submerged and can withstand temporary flooding. Cattails are useful as they act as natural filters removing pollutants and excess nutrients of which algae thrive off of. They are also useful at stabilizing water levels as their porous roots can absorb large amounts of water. They can grow to heights of 3m and bear brown stalk-like flowers that resemble cats tails. Cattails will generally grow in dense groups via rhizomes, preventing other plants from growing amongst them. We recommend that they be planted in saturated soil or be submerged by up to 50cm of water.