Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Typha latifolia Linnaeus
Typha latifolia is the common Cattail in the Gila Wilderness. It has leaves greater than a centimeter wide. Pistillate and staminate areas of the spike are contiguous and not separated by an area of bare stem. The fruit is a small achene. The pappus is a long tether, several times the length of the achene, connected to a parachute of fine filaments. The fruit usually separates in large, tangled masses of achenes that are very effective at riding wind currents.
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Typha latifolia, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangas Springs, Aug. 24. 2008
Typha latifolia, spikes continuous, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns, Mangas Springs, July 1, 2009
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