Sometimes it’s difficult to tell one cat from another, especially if they’re plants, not animals.
A cattail from last year looking ragged in springtime
In the spring, last year’s cattails look shabby and ragged. An aggressive native species, colonies of this spike-like plant are commonly found in ditches and freshwater wetlands. The soft down-like seeds are easily dispersed by the wind. Besides being employed by birds to line nests, the down was used by First Nation’s people as a firestarter and to line moccasins and papooses. Many parts of the plant are edible. (For more see the Wikipedia page for Typha at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha) New green cattails will appear later this summer and turn brown as the season progresses.
Cattails growing in a ditch.
Cattails are often confushed with catkins, the male (and sometimes male/female) reproductive part on some trees and bushes. Below are catkins on an alder tree. The word ‘catkin’ is derived from the Dutch word for kitten. In late spring, these catkins certainly look like kittens’ tails.
In the next image, you can see the greenish catkins as they appeared earlier this spring, hard and closed. Also visible on the leafless branches are small brown cones leftover from last year. These cones hold many small seeds that are a favorite of chickadees.
New catkins on speckled alder with last year’s cones
Below are the pussywillows that are such a welcome sight in early spring. Their soft grey fur invites petting by young and old. As a child I recall my first grade class glueing these to an image of a kitten to provide texture and color. It was a common craft back then when most children had access to pussywillows near their homes.
Pussywillows are a type of catkin growing on willow trees or bushes. Eventually, they go to seed and appear quite different than when they first emerged from the branch.
By now, it’s difficult to find evidence of pussywillows in our woods. However, fresh green catkins can now be found on the yellow birch trees.
Yellow birch catkin
With such staggered and changing appearances, cattails, catkins and pussywillows can seem as mysterious as their feline namesake. Perhaps that’s part of their charm.
Text and images copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2012
nice… looks a little cold yet
Patricia, it’s been cooler lately but that isn’t stopping the green from emerging. Everything looks so fresh, especially after the rain we’ve had this week.
Catkins: I was wondering what those were called. I’ve been admiring them this season. I have a tree/shrub by my driveway that looks just like the one in the first picture.
Grace, this tree/shrub is next to my driveway too! I wish I knew its exact name. It looks like a short-leaved willow. Later in the season, the catkins become fluffy before they disperse.
Thank you for another informative and visually engaging post. There is something about cattails that has always appealed to me since childhood. Where did you learn about the Native American uses for the plant? Source? Thank you.
Glad you liked it Eva. I find them very appealing too. Their appearance is so unique.
I learned about the Native American uses on the Wikipedia page for Typha at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha
Thank you for the link! Much appreciated.
Another informative, fascinating post Amy-Lynn.
Sybil, as a cat-lover, you are a bit partial to the subject
Thanks for a great lesson. I remember a pussy willow tree in my parent’s yard, but I only remember the new, soft furry ones. Interesting!
Patti, weren’t you lucky to grow up with pussywillows in your yard! The ones in my yard died in the past couple of years. Not sure why that happened. I was just reading this morning that pussywillows are now considered endangered in some places in the US.
I do not know any of these, but they are often mentioned in books, so now I feel much better informed! Thank you, Amy.