Southern Cattail

Produces brown flower spikes.

Scientific name	Typha domingensis
English name	Southern Cattail
Japanese name	Himegama
Classification	Monocots
Classification details	Poales Typhaceae
Full length	Grows to about 2m.
Distribution	Found in waterside areas throughout Japan.

Characteristics

An emergent plant of the Typhaceae family that grows to about 2m.

The brown sausage-like parts are the "flower spikes", and cattails produce male and female flower spikes.

Himegama differs from Kotama in that the upper part of the female flower spike is yellow-green.

Ecology

A perennial plant that grows in lakes and brackish waters, it blooms from early summer to summer. The spikes turn reddish brown when ripe.

Habitat

Tama River midstream

They were growing in clusters in puddles in the Tama River midstream. The tall grass was growing to hide the puddles from the surrounding area. It seemed to be a perfect hiding place for reed warblers and warblers.