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Notes: Common Cattail, T. latifolia is indigenous to the Garden area. Eloise Butler catalogued it on May 25, 1907. It is native to most counties in Minnesota except for a few in the southern half of the state. It is distributed all across North America. Narrow-leaved Cattail, T. angustifolia is not native to Minnesota or the United States but is a native of Canada. Eloise Butler introduced the plant to the Garden on April 26, 1913 and again on May 18, 1913 with plants sourced from Kelsey's Nursery in North Carolina. Having been introducedto Minnesota long ago, it is found in many counties in Minnesota all across the state, but in fewer than T. latifolia; it is found in the Metro Area counties except Carver and Scott, and in some marshes, it predominates. Cattails have had many practical uses over time for both food and plant material. Densmore (Ref. #5) reports its use among the Chippewa of Minnesota for making mats and baskets.
Eloise Butler wrote on Cattails: "Who pictures a swamp without the familiar cattails and red-winged blackbirds flying in and out piping their cheerful notes? In an aesthetic craze a few years ago, the cattails, or flags, were the popular decoration of the home, filling large jardineres or embroidered or painted on screens and lambrequins. Though of inherent decorative value they have fallen into “innocuous desuetude” by reason of overuse. It is a warning to “avoid the obvious.” Individuality, not too pronounced or extreme, should be expressed. Why, for instance, because a neighbor has a beautiful plant on his premises should every one in the vicinity straightway fill his grounds with the same in monotonous reiteration? Among the hosts of ornamental plants may not something else be selected besides hydrangea, scarlet rambler, canna and golden glow to prevent satiety? If a plant is “all the rage.” it is the very best reason why one should fall out of line and imitate nature in her endless variety.
The flower cluster of the cattail is made up of innumerable blossoms of two sorts, without nectar, fragrance or bright color, because they are pollinated by the wind. The slender spike at the top bears the pollen-producing flowers. These after doing their work wither sway and disappear, while the flowers of the stouter body below ripen into tiny, seed-like fruits that are converted by tufts of fine hairs into aeroplanes that will take a long flight through the air before they settle down to propagate new plants. Cattails are still in fashion with children, who carefully store them for a gala time, when they are dipped in kerosene to use for torches in Halloween processions." Published in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune, July 16, 1911.
Edwin Way Teale wrote of collecting the yellow pollen: Mixed with batter, it will contribute to a special delicacy of this time of year - cattail pollen pancakes. Served with maple syrup, they possess a delicate haunting flavor vaguely suggesting corn fritters. from A Walk Through the Year.
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