Typha latifolia, the American cattail, is native to our continent. It's a useful wetland plant, though it can be aggressive, as it forms expanding colonies from its spreading rhizomes. It also makes it a great bank, or edge, stabilizer.
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| Cattails at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, Old Town, ME |
Their dense stands can provide cover and shelter for wildlife, whether for raising young, foraging or as nest materials.
Cattails are sometimes planted in areas to help absorb oil spills over time - they can efficiently remove toxins from the water, but the starchy roots and tubers (usually edible even to humans) accumulate the toxins, making them inedible to wildlife, too.
They produce a lot of airy, fluffy seeds in the fall ...
... that end up everywhere, looking like white spidery creatures.
