broadleaf cattail

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• broad-leaved cattail
• Bulrush
• False Bulrush
• Great Reedmace
• Broadleaf Cattail
• Common Bulrush
• Cooper's-reed
• cattail
• common cattail
• giant reed-mace
• great cattail
• soft-flag
• Reedmace
• cat's tail
• lesser reedmace

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Typha angustifolia var. elata
• Typha latifolia f. ambigua
• Typha rossica
• Typha major
• Typha latifolia f. intermedia
• Typha latifolia f. didyma
• Massula latifolia
• Typha latifolia var. ambigua
• Typha latifolia var. angustifolia
• Typha intermedia
• Typha latifolia var. obconica
• Typha latifolia f. divisa
• Typha latifolia var. elata
• Typha latifolia var. elatior
• Typha latifolia var. elongata
• Typha latifolia var. gracilis
• Typha latifolia var. remotiuscula
• Typha latifolia var. typica
• Typha remotiuscula
• Typha pendula
• Typha angustifolia var. media
• Typha angustifolia lusus uechtritzii
• Typha angustifolia proles brownii
• Typha ambigua
• Typha engelmannii
• Typha caspica
• Typha crassa
• Typha elata
• Typha spathulifolia
• Typha elongata
• Typha krasnovae

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Poales. Finally, it is classified under the family Typhaceae and the genus Typha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Typha latifolia, is widely distributed across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural habitats of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence is well-documented throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. The species also extends its reach into the northern territories of Norway. These specific locations highlight the plant's preference for the Northern European landscape.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Typha latifolia is characterized by its preference for diverse aquatic environments, specifically thriving in habitats such as brackish water, lakes, rivers, and swamps. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across different landscapes, with an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 500 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of 1680 m AMSL across its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1680 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

brackish water, lakes, rivers, swamps

Life history

The life history of Typha latifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons through robust underground structures. As a helophyte, it occupies a unique ecological niche by maintaining part of its life cycle in the water while having parts that emerge above the surface, often functioning as a cryptophyte where its regenerative organs remain protected below the substrate. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its aerial parts during unfavorable conditions or seasonal changes, which facilitates its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge when environmental conditions become favorable.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

helophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Typha latifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence. The species exhibits a versatile ecological habit, categorized as aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial, and it grows as a terrestrial organism rather than an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 25 meters, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 5.75 meters.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

5.75 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Typha latifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from its substrate and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variability; leaves typically reach a mean length of 70 cm, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 45 cm to a maximum of 95 cm. The width of these leaves is notably narrow, maintaining a mean of 1 cm, with minimum and maximum measurements of 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm, respectively. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 175.22 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 115.94 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

95 cm

Leaf length mean:

70 cm

Leaf length min:

45 cm

Leaf size mean:

175.22 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

115.94 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Typha latifolia is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July. The plant utilizes an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on wind for the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.11 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.12 cm). The seeds contained within are minute, possessing a mean seed mass of approximately 9.24165e-05 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 3e-05 g to a maximum of 9e-04 g. Furthermore, the seeds exhibit a consistent volume of 0.054 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination for successful reproductive cycles.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.12 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.11 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

9e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

9.24165e-05 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.054 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Typha latifolia has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Stem

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Chemicals

Typha latifolia has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC, Dimethylarsinic acid, Flavonoids, IRON, MERCURY.

ARSENIC

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Dimethylarsinic acid

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Flavonoids

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

IRON

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

MERCURY

1. International journal of phytoremediation

Monomethylarsonic acid

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

arsenate

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

beta-Glucan

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology