Center for Aquatic Plants - Aquatic and Wetland Plant Particulars and Photos Aquatic and Wetland Plant Particulars and Photographs Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System University of Florida, Center for Aquatic Plants Drawing Typha species Cattail C attails are among the most common of all aquatic plants. They can reach eight or more feet tall and grow prolifically from thick underground rhizomes.
Cattails often dominate large areas, especially where water levels fluctuate.
C attails get their name from their cylindrical flower spikes which can be more than one foot long. The flower spikes are densely packed with tiny flowers. Cattail leaves are straplike and stiff, and rounded on the back. The leaves are sheathed together at their bases. Therefore, cattail plants appear to be flattened from the side.