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Typha domingensis
  • Southern Cattail

a perennial member of the Typha genus in the family Typhaceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Earth stabiliser
    Earth stabiliser
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsaquatic
    Aquatic
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Typha domingensis has 7 edible uses listed
Typha domingensis has 7 material uses listed
Typha domingensis has 4 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Roots - raw or cooked[1]. Rich in starch[2], it can be boiled and eaten like potatoes or macerated and then boiled to yield a sweet syrup. The root can also be dried, ground into a poder and then used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereal flours. Rich in protein, this flour is used to make biscuits, bread, cakes etc[3]. The root contains a lot of fibre[4]. One way to remove this fibre is to peel lengths of the root that are about 20 - 25cm long, place them by a fire for a short while to dry and then twist and loosen the fibres when the starch of the root can be shaken out[4].

Young shoots in spring - raw or cooked[4]. An asparagus substitute. The inner core is eaten[5]. Base of mature stem - raw or cooked. It is best to remove the outer part of the stem. Young flowering stem - raw, cooked or made into a soup. Tastes like sweet corn[5]. Seed - cooked. The seed is rather small and fiddly to utilize, but has a pleasant nutty taste when roasted. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Due to the small size of the seed this is probably not a very worthwhile crop[K].

Pollen - raw or cooked. A protein rich additive to flour used in making bread, porridge etc[2][3]. It can also be eaten with the young flowers, which makes it considerably easier to utilize. The pollen can be harvested by placing the flowering stem over a wide but shallow container and then gently tapping the stem and brushing the pollen off with a fine brush[6]. This will help to pollinate the plant and thereby ensure that both pollen and seeds can be harvested[K].

Flowers

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Unknown part

Oil

Pollen

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The stems and leaves have many uses, they make a good thatch, can be used in making paper, can be woven into mats, chairs, hats etc[1][7]. They are a good source of biomass, making an excellent addition to the compost heap or used as a source of fuel etc.

A fibre obtained from the roots can be used for making string[4]. The hairs of the fruits are used for stuffing pillows etc. They have good insulating and buoyancy properties. The pollen is highly inflammable and is used in making fireworks.

This plants extensive root system makes it very good for stabilizing wet banks of rivers, lakes etc.

Unknown part

Biomass
Fibre
Insulation
Paper
Stuffing
Thatching
Weaving

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are diuretic[8].

The pollen is astringent, desiccant, diuretic, haemostatic and vulnerary[9][8]. It is used in the treatment of nose bleeds, haematemesis, haematuria, uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhoea, postpartum abdominal pain and gastralgia, scrofula and abscesses[9]. It is contraindicated for pregnant women[9]. The seed down is haemostatic[8].

The rootstock is astringent and diuretic[10].

Unknown part

Astringent
Diuretic
Haemostatic
Vulnerary

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a pot and stand it in 3cm of water. Pot up the young seedlings as soon as possible and, as the plants develop, increase the depth of water. Plant out in summer. Division in spring. Very easy, harvest the young shoots when they are about 10 - 30cm tall, making sure there is at least some root attached, and plant them out into their permanent positions.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Typha domingensis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



It is growing well on my allotment in Hampshire, stony soil over chalk, and the bit of ground it is on didn't get any organic matter for several years and is fairly dry in summer but I suppose it hasn't dried out this year due to high rainfall. It is in full sun and is flowering it's heart out now; quite a pretty ground cover. ( Mid May )

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Typha domingensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Typha domingensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Typha domingensis
Genus
Typha
Family
Typhaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[8][9][10]
Material uses & Functions
[1][7][4]
Botanic
[11][12]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
  • Flowers (Unknown use)
  • Leaves (Unknown use)
  • Unknown part (Oil)
  • Pollen (Unknown use)
  • Root (Unknown use)
  • Seed (Unknown use)
  • Stem (Unknown use)
Material uses
  • Unknown part (Biomass)
  • Unknown part (Fibre)
  • Unknown part (Insulation)
  • Unknown part (Paper)
  • Unknown part (Stuffing)
  • Unknown part (Thatching)
  • Unknown part (Weaving)
Medicinal uses
  • Unknown part (Astringent)
  • Unknown part (Diuretic)
  • Unknown part (Haemostatic)
  • Unknown part (Vulnerary)
Functions & Nature
Functions
Earth stabiliser
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
aquatic
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
  • Salinity
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
?
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
?
Mature Size
3 x meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Wind
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
monoecious

{#set:Has binomial name=Typha domingensis











References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh (1976-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.2 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. ISBN 0-207-14383-8 (1989-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.2 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
  6. ? 6.06.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (1981-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.18.28.3 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.19.29.3 Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles (1985-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  11. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-50
  12. ? 12.012.112.212.312.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  13. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-43" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.


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Facts about "Typha domingensis"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyTyphaceae +
Belongs to genusTypha +
Functions asEarth stabiliser +
Has binomial nameTypha domingensis +
Has common nameSouthern Cattail +
Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
Has edible partFlowers +, Leaves +, Unknown part +, Pollen +, Root +, Seed + and Stem +
Has edible useUnknown use + and Oil +
Has environmental toleranceSalinity +
Has fertility typeWind +
Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
Has hardiness zone5 +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useBiomass +, Fibre +, Insulation +, Paper +, Stuffing +, Thatching + and Weaving +
Has mature height3 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAstringent +, Diuretic +, Haemostatic + and Vulnerary +
Has salinity toleranceTolerant +
Has search nametypha domingensis + and southern cattail +
Has seed requiring scarification
Has seed requiring stratification
Has seed with dormancy depth
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameTypha domingensis +
Has water requirementsaquatic +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated No +
PFAF material use notes migrated No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated Yes +
Tolerates air pollution
Tolerates maritime exposure
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil
Tolerates wind
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +