Typha domingensis Pers.
= T. angustata, T. angustifolia var. dominguensis, T. bracteata, T. truxillensis
Southern cattail, tule
Northern Paiute: tahúnadzi (Fowler 1990:69)
Seri: pat (Felger and Moser 1985:373)
Location in Texas: all TX; not uncommon in Travis Co.; water habitat.
Form: grass-like, up to 12 ft. tall; perennial.
Flowers: Mar-Aug (white, yellow, brown).
Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail
Food
Flowers (spadix) – the inflorescence spike (the cattail) was eaten fresh by the northern Paiute when young and green (Fowler 1990:71).
Pollen – the inflorescence spikes were shaken or tapped into a basket by the northern Paiute to gather the pollen (Fowler 1990:72). The pollen was mixed with water to form into cakes that were baked in coals, using layers of cattail leaves to contain the cakes (Fowler 1990:72). These cakes could be stored (Fowler 1990:72).
Seeds – the inflorescence spikes were warmed in the sun, and the fluff removed (Fowler 1990:72). The fluff was placed on the ground in a layer about 2 inches deep (Fowler 1990:72). It was set on fire and the mixture stirred to burn off all the fluff (Fowler 1990:72). The tiny seeds would remain on the ground, from where they were gathered (Fowler 1990:72). They were then winnowed, ground into meal, and boiled into mush (Fowler 1990:72). The dry meal was also eaten with a little water (Fowler 1990:72).
Shoots (culms) – a long piece of lateral root (rhizome) was dug from the mud by the northern Paiute and the new shoots emerging from it were broken off (Fowler 1990:70). The leaves were peeled off these shoots and the underlying white, crisp tissue was eaten fresh (Fowler 1990:70). Shoots were preferred from plants growing in moving, rather than stagnant, water, as the former provided sweeter, better-tasting shoots (Fowler 1990:70).
Roots (rhizomes) – peeled and eaten fresh by the northern Paiute (Fowler 1990:70). Dried for storage by splitting the roots into strips that were roasted over a fire, then let air-dry in baskets (Fowler 1990:71). The dried roots were ground into meal and cooked with hot stones in baskets (Fowler 1990:71). The meal was also moistened to form cakes that were roasted in coals (Fowler 1990:71).
GS – shoots: early spring (Fowler 1990:70). Roots: spring and fall, but best in the fall (Fowler 1990:70). Flowers: May and June (Fowler 1990:71).
Material
Pollen – used for facepaint by the Seri (Felger and Moser 1985:373).
Typha domingensis; rubbing off seed fluff, in Austin, TX.
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