What plant was a first-aid kit?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 2, 2002

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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Cattails (Typha Linnaeus) are cosmopolitan--the estimated ten to fifteen species are found in temperate and tropical wetlands worldwide. Typhe was the name given to cattails in ancient Greece. Cattails are considered one of the first plants utilized by humans.

Cattail by Samuel Curtis
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Pollen collected from the staminate flowers on the upper portion of the inflorescence has served as flour or flour extender for ancient cultures from the Tigris and Euphrates, China, New Zealand, and North America. It is reported that when cattails are shedding pollen, it is so abundant that several pounds of pollen can be collected in an hour. The inflorescence is shaken over a container; kept dry the pollen will store for 6 months or more. The rhizomes (underground stems) were boiled as a source of starch; the inflorescences were cooked as a vegetable.

Native American tribes used the crushed rhizomes as a topical ointment for sores and inflamed wounds. The flowering stem was steeped as a tea for coughs. The 'fluff' from the matured seeds was used as a styptic (to stop bleeding), to cover burns, and prevent chafing.

Even Europe had similar folk remedies using cattails. John Gerard recommended, "The soft Downe stamped with swines grease well washed, healeth burnings or scaldings with fire or water....and fit consounding (healing) plaister upon the grieved place...in Chirurgerie (surgery)...also often proved to heale kibed or humbled (ulcerated) heeles being applied to them, either before or after the skinne is broken." (The Herbal, 1633 ed.)

The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center of the US Geological Survey has a great photograph of Typha latifolia showing the pollen-bearing staminate flowers above the dark brown pistillate (female) flowers of the cattail inflorescence. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1998/mnplant/tyla.htm

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

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