What is a cattail? We learn the life of plants

Rogoz is often confused with reeds or reeds. Apparently, this happens for the reason that they all grow near water bodies, along their banks or in shallow water. Upon careful examination, it becomes clear that the plants are significantly different from each other even in their appearance.

What is a cattail?

Cattail, cattail - these are the names of the same plant. Today, scientists have 37 species of this perennial. The most common are narrow-leaved, broadleaf, Caspian, Dominican, elephant, small, eastern cattail and others.

What is cattail

To understand the question of what a cattail is, you must first learn to distinguish it from reeds and reeds. This is not at all difficult to do. The long stem of the plant ends with a β€œplush” ear of black or dark brown color. This is what cattail attracts attention to, while panicles on the stalk of reeds or reeds are of little interest to anyone.

Places of growth

He is an aquatic plant, so it’s easy to guess where the cattail grows. Shallow ponds, coastal shallow waters, and marshy areas are considered his favorite habitat.

The plant feels rather well in polluted waters. It has been established that cattail along with reeds and sedge are excellent natural cleaners. Thickets of these plants are able to neutralize toxic substances in water by 95%.

What does cattail look like?

What does cattail look like?

A strong thick stem of cattail sometimes reaches two meters in height. At the end of the stem there is a dense ear, the length of which is about 30 cm. The seeds ripen in it, after which the ear becomes loose and collapses even with a light touch.

Seeds from the cob fall onto the water, but do not get wet for a long time thanks to the fluffs that make them weightless, and the wind easily carries seeds over considerable distances. After a certain time, cattail seeds still fall to the bottom of the reservoir, where there are all the necessary conditions for their germination.

The structure of the leaf depends on the type of cattail - it can be wide or narrow. Its lower part is in water, as the leaf grows from the rhizome. Leaves have an amazing ability not to lose their firmness and elasticity, even when they are completely dry.

A strong, horizontally located rhizome is divided into two parts. One part of it reaches up and provides the plant with nutrients obtained from water. The other part of the rhizome (thicker) is directed to the bottom of the reservoir. With its help, the stems and leaves of the plant are held.

Human use of cattail

What is cattail, a man has learned all the extraordinary properties of this plant a very long time ago and has been using them to this day.

Where does cattail grow

So, for example, today you can see household items woven from the leaves and stalks of cattail. Stalks with cobs can decorate the interior of the apartment. True, this will not last long, because in the room the seed ripening occurs quickly, and the ear β€œspills”, forming a lot of fluff. A hut made of cattail leaves will save travelers from bad weather. Such a roof does not allow water to pass through, and walls can store heat.

Rhizomes of the plant are edible in a baked form. If you overcook them well, you can get raw materials for making a coffee-like drink.

The healing properties of the plant can not be overestimated - it has the ability to heal wounds, stop the blood, have an antimicrobial effect.

For medicinal purposes, leaves are used, which are best collected in June and July. The rhizome of cattail is also used in folk medicine. It is being harvested in August.

To learn more about the plant and understand what cattail is, you need to make an excursion to the nearest body of water for this purpose. Perhaps you are lucky - and you will get to know each other better.

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/F18072/


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