Cattail: Learn how to harvest and utilize this wild aquatic plant during the best and worst of times

Monday, September 16, 2013 by: Carolanne Wright
Tags: cattail, aquatic plants, food foraging

(NaturalNews) One of the most common wild plants found throughout the world, cattail, is astoundingly versatile. So much so that it can make the difference between life and death if one is lost in the wilderness or when food is in short supply. But this humble plant is also extremely handy in ordinary, day-to-day situations too. If you have access to an area with cattail, an exceptional survival resource is right at your fingertips.

Year-round usefulness

Most of us have come across cattail at one time or another. Distinguished by a brown cigar-shaped head on a hearty stalk, cattail grows in wet areas often close to streams, ponds and lakes. As one of the most functional wild plants, cattail offers different uses during each season.

Early spring - Fresh shoots begin to sprout and can be dug up and (once peeled) eaten raw or sauteed. Additionally, the lower part of the leaves can be added to salads.

Summer - This is the season when the uses for cattail are most abundant. Once a stem is pulled from the ground, you will notice the lower part is white. When eaten raw, it tastes similar to cucumber. Cooked, it tastes like corn. Lower cattail stalks are a good source of vitamins A, B and C along with potassium and phosphorus. During midsummer, a yellow pollen appears that can be used as flour or thickener for soups and stews. To harvest the pollen, bend the cattail head into a paper bag and shake. In late summer, green flower spikes appear and can be eaten like corn on the cob.

Autumn - The root of cattail can now be harvested. Wash thoroughly and submerge in water - let sit until a gel forms. Drain the gel and use for bread making and soups. For a protein-rich flour, dry the roots and grind. It can also be roasted and ground for a healthy coffee substitute.

Winter - In northern climates, cattail root is difficult to collect, but not impossible if you can break through frozen ground and ice. In late winter, new shoots begin to emerge, once again providing a food source.

Cattail also has many other uses. The brown, tight heads are often dry at the core (even after heavy rain) and can be used as survival tinder. Likewise, dipping the head in oil or fat will create a useable torch. Similar to down, the head yields a fluffy wool when broken apart and serves as excellent insulation for pillows, mattresses and clothing. If lost in the wilderness, a makeshift bed made with cattail down will help protect against heat loss, while the long leaves of the plant can be woven into mats and shelters. Medicinally, the gel found within the leaves act as a topical anesthetic. And a poultice made from the roots will soothe stings, burns and cuts.

Before trotting off to reap the benefits of cattail, a word of warning from Kat Morgenstern of Sacred Earth:

"Personally I do not harvest any roots or shoots in order to avoid negatively impacting next year's growth. The pollen and the cobs are by far the safest and easiest parts to collect. Furthermore, it requires some skill to distinguish young cattails from young Yellow Irises - which are poisonous, so unless you are an experienced forager and know how to distinguish these plants before their flowering parts appear, it may be better to leave those young plants alone.

"Last, but not least, cattail is said to have a certain emmenagogue action and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy."

Sources:

http://www.mnn.com

http://food-nutrition.knoji.com

http://www.ediblewildfood.com

http://www.eattheweeds.com

http://www.sacredearth.com

About the author:
Carolanne believes if we want to see change in the world, we need to be the change. As a nutritionist, wellness coach and natural foods chef, she has encouraged others to embrace a healthy lifestyle of green living for over 13 years. Through her website www.Thrive-Living.net she looks forward to connecting with other like-minded people who share a similar vision.

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