What is cattail? Learn the life of plants

Rogoz is often confused with reeds or reeds. Apparently, this is due to the fact that they all grow near water bodies, along their shores or in shallow water. On closer examination it becomes clear that the plants differ significantly from each other even in their external features.

What is cattail?

Rogoz, Rogoza - this is the name of the same plant. Today, scientists have 37 species of this perennial. The most common are narrow-leaved, broad-leaved, Caspian, Dominican, elephant, small, eastern cattail and others.

To understand the question of what a cattail is, first of all it is necessary to learn how to distinguish it from reeds and reeds. It is not difficult to do this at all. The long stalk of the plant ends with a "plush" cob of black or dark brown color. It is this cattail that attracts attention, while panicles on the stem of reeds or cane are of little interest.

Places of growth

He is an aquatic plant, therefore it is not difficult to guess where the cattail is growing. His favorite habitat is shallow water, coastal shallow water, swampy areas.

The plant feels well in polluted waters. It is established that the cattail, together with reeds and sedge, are excellent natural purifiers. Thickets of these plants are capable of neutralizing in water toxic substances by 95%.

What does the cattail look like?

Strong thick stalk of cattails reaches sometimes two meters in height. At the end of the stem is a dense cob, the length of which is approximately 30 cm. In it, the seeds ripen, after which the cob becomes friable and collapses even from a light touch.

Seeds of cob are falling on the water, but they do not get wet for a long time due to fluffs, which make them weightless, and the wind easily spreads the seeds for considerable distances. After a certain time, the seeds of the cattail still fall to the bottom of the reservoir, where there are all the necessary conditions for their germination.

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

A strong, horizontally located rhizome is divided into two parts. One part of it extends upwards 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 stems and plant leaves are kept.

Using a man's cattails

What is the cattail, all the unusual properties of this plant a person has learned a very long time and uses them to this day.

So, for example, today you can see everyday objects woven from the leaves and stems of cattail. Stems with cobs can decorate the interior of the apartment. True, this will not last long, since in the room the ripening of the seeds occurs quickly, and the cob "sprawls", forming a lot of down. Travelers will save from the bad weather a hut from the leaves of the cattail. Such a roof does not let water pass, and walls can store heat.

The rhizomes of the plant are edible in baked form. If they are well fried, then you can get raw materials for making a drink that looks like coffee.

Healing properties of the plant can not be overestimated - it has the ability to heal wounds, stop blood, and provide antimicrobial action.

For medicinal purposes, leaves are used which are best collected in June and July. Rhizome rhizome is also used in folk medicine. His procurement is in August.

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