Cattails

Cattails grow in marshes, swamps, ditches, and stagnant water—fresh or slightly brackish—worldwide. Finding them is a sure sign of water. The cattail’s every part has uses. It’s easy to harvest, very tasty, and highly nutritious. It was a major staple for the American Indians, who found it in such great supply, they didn’t need to cultivate it. The settlers missed out when they ignored this great food and destroyed its habitats, instead of cultivating it. Cattails and their associated microorganisms improve water and soil quality.

As a young girl, my mother went through a phase when she collected all kinds of weeds – mostly Queen Anne’s Lace, Mustard, Indian Pipes, and Silver Dollars – and dried them for use in floral arrangements. One particular time she trudged into a swampy area and cut cattails and brought them into the house to dry. If you have ever seen mature cattails, you would know that the soft brown stalk dries and turns to seed. My mother didn’t know this. Her cattails eventually dried and spewed seeds all over the house. It was a colossal mess! But, it was funny – very, very funny. She never brought cattails into the house again :)