Editing Typha (section)

==Uses==

===Culinary===
Many parts of the ''Typha'' plant are edible to humans. Before the plant flowers, the tender inside of the [[Shoot (botany)|shoot]]s can be squeezed out and eaten raw or cooked.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nyerges |first1=Christopher |title=Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles |date=2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-1499-6 |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RwDHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PP38}}</ref> The starchy [[rhizome]]s are nutritious with a protein content comparable to that of maize or rice.<ref name=Morton>{{cite journal|last=Morton|first=J. F.|title=Cattails (''Typha'' spp.) – Weed Problem or Potential Crop?|journal=Economic Botany|date=January–March 1975|volume=29|issue=1|pages=7–29|doi=10.1007/bf02861252|bibcode=1975EcBot..29....7M |s2cid=20072085}}</ref> They can be processed into a [[flour]] with 266 [[calorie|kcal]] per 100 grams,<ref name="Revedin"/> and are most often harvested from late autumn to early spring. They are fibrous, and the starch must be scraped or sucked from the tough fibers.<ref name=nova/> Baby shoots emerging from the rhizomes, which are sometimes subterranean, can be picked and eaten raw. Also underground is a [[carbohydrate]] lump which can be peeled and eaten raw or cooked like a [[potato]].<ref name=Nyerges40>{{cite book |last1=Nyerges |first1=Christopher |title=Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America: More than 150 Delicious Recipes Using Nature's Edibles |date=2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-1499-6 |page=40 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RwDHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PP40}}</ref> The plant is one championed by survival experts because various parts can be eaten throughout the year. Plants growing in polluted water can accumulate [[lead]] and [[pesticide]] residues in their rhizomes, and these should not be eaten.<ref name=nova>{{cite book|last=Gore|first=A. B.|title=Environmental Research at the Leading Edge|year=2007|publisher=[[Nova Science Publishers, Inc.]]|location=New York|pages=106}}</ref>

The rind of young stems can be peeled off, and the tender white heart inside can be eaten raw or boiled and eaten like [[asparagus]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Angier|first=Bradford|url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoedib00angi/page/50/mode/2up|title=Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=1974|isbn=0-8117-0616-8|location=Harrisburg, PA|pages=50|oclc=799792|author-link=Bradford Angier}}</ref> This food has been popular among the [[Cossacks]] in Ukraine, and has been called "Cossack asparagus".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Marsh|first=L. C.|title=The Cattail Story|journal=The Garden Journal|year=1959|volume=5|pages=114–129}}</ref>  The leaf bases can be eaten raw or cooked, especially in late spring when they are young and tender. In early summer the sheath can be removed from the developing green flower spike, which can then be boiled and eaten like [[corn on the cob]].<ref>{{cite book |last1= Elias |first1= T. S. |last2=Dykeman |first2=P. A. |title= Edible Wild Plants |year=2009 |orig-year= 1982 |publisher= Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-1-4027-6715-9 |pages=69–70 }}</ref> In mid-summer when the male flowers are mature, the [[pollen]] can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener; the Māori of New Zealand have a special bread called ''pungapunga'' made from the pollen of ''[[Typha orientalis|T. orientalis]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Neill |first1=Lindsay |last2=Sturny |first2=Arno |title=Pāraoa Rēwena: The Relegation of Aotearoa New Zealand's Indigenous Bread |journal=Sites: A Journal of Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies |date=Aug 2022 |volume=19 |issue=1 |page=65 |doi=10.11157/sites-id505}}</ref><ref>[http://tpo.tepapa.govt.nz/mainmenu_english.asp Raupo or Bulrush (''Typha orientalis'').] Tai Awatea. Accessed 15 December 2011.</ref>

===Agriculture===
The seeds have a high [[linoleic acid]] content and can be used to feed cattle and chickens.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Reed|first=E.|author2=Marsh, L. C. |title=The Cattail Potential|journal=Chemurgic Digest|year=1955|volume=14|series=3|pages=9, 18}}</ref>
They can also be found in African countries like Ghana.

Harvesting cattail  removes nutrients from the wetland that would otherwise return via the decomposition of decaying plant matter.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cicek|first1=N.|last2=Lambert|first2=S.|last3=Venema|first3=H.D.|last4=Snelgrove|first4=K.R.|last5=Bibeau|first5=E.L.|last6=Grosshans|first6=R.|date=June 2006|title=Nutrient removal and bio-energy production from Netley-Libau Marsh at Lake Winnipeg through annual biomass harvesting|journal=Biomass and Bioenergy|volume=30|issue=6|pages=529–536|doi=10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.12.009|bibcode=2006BmBe...30..529C |issn=0961-9534}}</ref> Floating mats of cattails remove nutrients from [[eutrophication|eutrophied bodies of freshwater]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-01|title=The Floating Bioplatforms of IISD-ELA|url=https://www.iisd.org/ela/blog/research-highlights/floating-bioplatforms/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=IISD Experimental Lakes Area}}</ref>

===Building material===
For local native tribes around [[Lake Titicaca]] in [[Peru]] and [[Bolivia]], ''Typha'' were among the most important plants and every part of the plant had multiple uses. For example, they were used to construct [[raft]]s and other boats.<ref name=Morton/>

During World War II, the United States Navy used the down of ''Typha'' as a substitute for [[Ceiba pentandra|kapok]] in [[Personal flotation device|life vests]] and aviation jackets. Tests showed that even after 100 hours of submersion, the buoyancy was still effective.<ref>{{cite book|last=Miller|first=D. T. |title=Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest, Including Recipes, Harmful Plants, Natural Dyes, and Textile Fibers: A Practical Guide|year=1999|publisher=University of Texas Press|location=Austin|isbn=978-0-292-78164-1|pages=147}}</ref>

''Typha'' are used as [[thermal insulation]] in buildings<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dieye|first1=Younouss|last2=Sambou|first2=Vincent|last3=Faye|first3=Mactar|last4=Thiam|first4=Ababacar|last5=Adj|first5=Mamadou|last6=Azilinon|first6=Dorothe|date=2017-01-01|title=Thermo-mechanical characterization of a building material based on Typha Australis|journal=Journal of Building Engineering|volume=9|pages=142–146|doi=10.1016/j.jobe.2016.12.007|issn=2352-7102}}</ref> as an organic alternative to conventional insulating materials such as [[glass wool]] or [[stone wool]].

===Paper===
''Typha'' stems and leaves can be used to make [[paper]]. It is strong with a heavy texture and it is hard to bleach, so it is not suitable for industrial production of graphical paper. In 1853, considerable amounts of cattail paper were produced in [[New York (state)|New York]], due to a shortage of raw materials.<ref>{{cite book|title=Making Aquatic Weeds Useful: Some Perspectives for Developing Countries.|year=1976|publisher=Books for Business|location=Ottawa: National Research Council.|isbn=978-0-89499-180-6|pages=101}}</ref> In 1948, French scientists tested methods for annual harvesting of the leaves. Because of the high cost, these methods were abandoned and no further research was done.<ref name=Morton/> Today ''Typha'' is used to make decorative paper.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Jahan|first1=M. Sarwar|last2=Islam|first2=M. Khalidul|last3=Chowdhury|first3=D.A. Nasima|last4=Moeiz|first4=S.M. Iqbal|last5=Arman|first5=U.|date=October 2007|title=Pulping and papermaking properties of pati (Typha)|journal=Industrial Crops and Products|language=en|volume=26|issue=3|pages=259–264|doi=10.1016/j.indcrop.2007.03.014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Bidin|first1=Nordiah|last2=Zakaria|first2=Muta Harah|last3=Bujang|first3=Japar Sidik|last4=Abdul Aziz|first4=Nur Aznadia|date=2015|title=Suitability of Aquatic Plant Fibers for Handmade Papermaking|journal=International Journal of Polymer Science|language=en|volume=2015|pages=1–9|doi=10.1155/2015/165868|issn=1687-9422|doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Fiber===
Fibers up to 4 meters long can be obtained from the stems when they are treated mechanically or chemically with [[sodium hydroxide]]. The stem fibers resemble [[jute]] and can be used to produce raw textiles. The leaf fibers can be used as an alternative to [[cotton]] and [[linen]] in clothing. The yield of leaf fiber is 30 to 40 percent and ''Typha glauca'' can produce 7 to 10 tons per hectare annually.<ref name=Morton/>

===Biofuel===
''Typha'' can be used as a source of starch to produce [[ethanol]]. Because of their high productivity in northern latitudes, ''Typha'' are considered to be a [[energy crop|bioenergy crop]].<ref>{{cite journal|title= Production of cattail (''Typha'' spp.) biomass in Minnesota, USA|journal= Biomass|volume= 17|issue= 2|pages= 79–104|doi= 10.1016/0144-4565(88)90073-X|year= 1988|last1= Dubbe|first1= D.R.|last2= Garver|first2= E.G.|last3= Pratt|first3= D.C.}}</ref>

===Other===
The seed hairs were used by some [[indigenous peoples of the Americas]]{{which|date=April 2017}} as [[tinder]] for starting fires. Some tribes also used ''Typha'' down to line [[moccasins]], and for bedding, diapers, baby powder, and [[cradleboard]]s. One Native American word for ''Typha'' meant "fruit for papoose's bed".{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} ''Typha'' down is still used in some areas to stuff clothing items and pillows. ''Typha'' can be dipped in wax or fat and then lit as a candle, the stem serving as a wick. Without the use of wax or fat it will smolder slowly, somewhat like [[incense]], and may repel insects. {{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The flower stalks can be made into [[chopsticks]]. The leaves can be treated to weave into baskets, mats, or sandals.<ref name=Nyerges40/> The rushes are harvested and the leaves often dried for later use in chair seats.  Re-wetted, the leaves are twisted and wrapped around the chair rungs to form a densely woven seat that is then stuffed (usually with the left over rush).

Small-scale experiments have indicated that ''Typha'' are able to remove [[arsenic]] from drinking water.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jackson |first1=Jeremiah |title=Removing Arsenic Sustainably |journal=Civil Engineering |date=April 2007 |pages=45–55}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jackson |first1=Jeremiah |title=Treatment of Arsenic Contaminated Water Using Aquatic Macrophytes |journal=An International Perspective on Environment and Water Resources |date=December 18–20, 2006 |at=New Delhi, India |publisher=American Society of Civil Engineers, Environment and Water Resources |language=en}}</ref>
The boiled rootstocks have been used as a [[diuretic]] for increasing urination, or mashed to make a jelly-like paste for sores, boils, wounds, burns, scabs, and smallpox pustules.<ref>{{cite book|last=Maiden|first=J. H.|title=Useful Native Plants of Australia (incl. Tasmania)|year=1889|publisher=Technological Mus. New South Wales|location=Sydney}}</ref>

Cattail pollen is used as a banker source of food for predatory insects and mites (such as ''[[Amblyseius swirskii]]'') in greenhouses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Applying pollen over a crop as an alternative food source for predatory mites|date=January 20, 2015|author=Heidi Wollaeger|publisher=Michigan State University|url=http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/applying_pollen_over_a_crop_as_an_alternative_food_source_for_predatory_mit}}</ref>

The cattail, or, as it is commonly referred to in the American Midwest, the sausage tail, has been the subject of multiple artist renditions, gaining popularity in the mid-twentieth century. The term, sausage tail, derives from the similarity that cattails have with sausages, a name given to the plant by the Midwest Polish community, which had noticed a striking similarity between the plant and a common Polish dish, [[Kielbasa|kiełbasa]].{{cn|date=April 2025}}