Montana Field Guide

Stems 80–150 cm. Leaves 3 to 12 mm wide. Inflorescence: male spike 8–12 cm × 8–10 mm; separated from the female spike 7–15 cm × 6–9 mm. Flowers: stigma linear, brown; pollen grains shed separately (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Typha angustifolia may be difficult to separate from the tall cattail (Typha domingensis), which is usually taller and has flattened and more numerous leaves (Apfelbaum 1985). Hybrids of intermediate appearance have been reported, and are often referred to as the species Typha x glauca.

Typha angustifolia can be distinguished from broad-leaved cattail by the relative width of the leaf and the position of the staminate and pistillate portions of the spadix (heads). Typha latifolia has 6-23 mm wide leaves that are flat, sheathing, and pale grayish-green in color. In contrast, T. angustifolia has 3-8 mm wide leaves that are full green and somewhat convex on back (Agricultural Rea. Service 1971). In T. latifolia the staminate and pistillate heads are contiguous or nearly so, whereas in T. angustifolia the heads are separated by approximately 3 cm.

Shallow water of marshes, ponds, lakes, often where saline; plains, valleys (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).