Paleo Foraging

Typha spp.

Cattail

Location in Texas: all TX; not uncommon in Travis Co.; 2 spp. in TX: water habitat.

Form: grass-like, up to 12 ft. tall; perennial.

The two principal species in North America (see specific range maps below):

Typha domingensis / Southern cattail

Typha latifolia / Broadleaf cattail

Both of these are also called tule. See links for their many uses.

The below uses apply only to indeterminate cattail species (likely one of the above).

Food

Roots – eaten by Mescalero Apache (Mails 1974).

Material

Fruits – cattail down was used to stuff pillows by the Caddo (La Vere 2006:86).

Stems / leaves – ground to pulp and mixed with clay for house wall material by the Caddo (La Vere 2006:85). Used for mats to cover Caddo house floors (La Vere 2006:86). Used for basketry by the Caddo (La Vere 2006:92).