Cattails

by Carl Rooker
(Michigan)

Cattails are a very important survival food. There is some part of the plant that is edible for every season.

Winter and early spring are the roots. Full of starch. Can be eaten other times, but these two seasons are the best. Can be eaten like a potato, can separate out the starch in water and use as flour, or can be eaten raw (barring bacteria problems).

The green shoots in early spring can be eaten as an asparagus.

The pollen pods can be eaten like corn on the cob, and the pollen itself can be gathered to make a type of flour.

And, of course, coming back into fall the roots are better again.

Also, the Cattail itself can be used for other things. The leaves can be woven together to make mats, baskets, and even shelter. The stalks are not strong, but can still be used for supports, shelter building, and even arrows for low poundage bows (they stick well). The fluff of the seed pod can be used to insulate cloathing, mats made from the leaves, and as dry tinder.

And, of course, anywhere there are catails, there are frogs, snakes, salamanders, turtles, and fish.