Cattail

Cattail (Typha; Ukrainian: rohiz). Perennial plant of the Typhaceae family that grows in marshes and along riverbanks. It has an extensive creeping rhizome and a rigid, round stem. In Ukraine there are five species of cattail, but the most prevalent are the common cattail (T. latifolia) and the narrow-leaved cattail (T. angustifolia). Their stems are up to 2.5 m high. Young stems can be eaten raw, and the roots can be roasted. The stems are used for thatch and fuel, the leaves for weaving baskets. The hairs can be used as filling and packing material and mixed with animal hair for making hats. Cattails are used in the paper and cellulose industries.