Logos
12 Aug, 2008
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Description: Cattails are grasslike plants with strap-shaped leaves 1 to 5 centimeters wide and growing up to 1.8 meters tall. The male flowers are borne in a dense mass above the female flowers. These last only a short time, leaving the female flowers that develop into the brown cattail. Pollen from the male flowers is often abundant and bright yellow. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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Logos
12 Aug, 2008
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Habitat and Distribution: Cattails are found throughout most of the world. Look for them in full sun areas at the margins of lakes, streams, canals, rivers, and brackish water. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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Logos
12 Aug, 2008
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Edible Parts: The young tender shoots are edible raw or cooked. The rhizome is often very tough but is a rich source of starch. Pound the rhizome to remove the starch and use as a flour. The pollen is also an exceptional source of starch. When the cattail is immature and still green, you can boil the female portion and eat it like corn on the cob. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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Logos
12 Aug, 2008
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Other Uses: The dried leaves are an excellent source of weaving material you can use to make floats and rafts. The cottony seeds make good pillow stuffing and insulation. The fluff makes excellent tinder. Dried cattails are effective insect repellents when burned. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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crashdive123
17 Jul, 2009
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The stems can be soaked in cold water to remove the starch and the water then cooked off to make a paste. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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Ted
29 Jan, 2010
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Making flour- Rootstalks can be collected late fall through,spring. Wash,peel,then crush in bucket of water,remove any fiber and debis floating,pour water and repeat a couple of times.Can be used while still wet, or let dry for future use. |
Current Rating: 0.0000
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Locations Found
Florida, US
Ontario, Canada
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