Plants of Stone Lakes NWR

The native Broadleaf Cattail (Typha latifolia) stands at Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge appeared on their own from wind dispersing the seeds. Broadleaf Cattails do provide food and shelter for different marsh-dwelling animals. They provide nesting sites for red-winged blackbirds, ducks and geese and shelter spots for fish to lay eggs. Muskrats and beavers enjoy the shoots and roots of Broadleaf Cattail, while teal
ducks, finches and least bitterns eat the seeds.

This plant is also known to absorb pollutants. The tender shoots and roots of cattail are edible, but care must be taken to ensure that pollutants have not been absorbed into thenplant.