Winter Survival Series Part 11: Seasonal Saviours, Cattail
~ Submitted by: Cheyenne Caza, AHA Student Member
· Cattail -- Typha latifolia/angustifolia: For good reason, this plant is commonly referred to as the supermarket of the wild. You can get fire, food, medicine, shelter, and tools all year round from this single plant. It is quite remarkable how far it can go and almost the entire plant is edible, all year round. The roots (if you can get at them through whatever ice and snow might be present) are about 80% carbohydrate, 30% starch, and 6% protein; They can be dug up, peeled, and eaten raw or cooked much like potatoes (boil, roast, fry, etc.). A palate improving, morale boosting, and energy giving syrup can be obtained from the roots by macerating them and then boiling to yield sweet syrup. The roots can also be dried and ground into a powder, and combined with other flours to make bannock and bread. This powder is very carbohydrate and protein rich, making it an excellent addition to soups and stews, helping to diversify the nutrients and thicken the liquid, allowing you to feel fuller than with a thin broth. The plant is at its starchiest in late autumn to early spring, making it an ideal winter survival food, though it is bitterer than in warmer months. In late winter/early spring, new shoots come up at the base of the plants. These young asparagus-like shoots can be eaten raw or cooked, simply peel the outer layers and eat the tender core. Mature shoots taste more like cucumber and can be harvested in the same way, though by this stage they will require cooking. The stems of cattails are edible; just simply peel away the outer layers to get to the tender core, much like how you handle the shoots. Cattail down/seed fluff makes for outstanding flash tinder for fire starting. It is also invaluable for anything requiring insulation, with people throughout time using to insulate jackets, stuff pillows and mattresses, and to line shelter walls. The fluff can also be used alongside regular flour to make bannock, substituting some of the flour required by the recipe for cattail down. When prepared ahead of time, cattail pollen is a protein rich must-have for all wild meals. Adding the powder to your meals does wonders for diversifying the nutritional profile. If harvested correctly, cattail pollen can be shelf stable for a whole year, easily contributing to balanced health all year round. Cattail is wonderful for healing a wide spectrum of wounds by pounding the roots into a jelly-like poultice and applying directly onto the wound. This is good for burns, scalds, boils, cuts, inflammations, and bruising. The fluff has also been used for burn and wound dressing, a diaper rash treatment, as well as padding for menstrual bleeding. The strong leaves are great for weaving (shelter walls, mats, chairs, baskets, bags, etc.) and making thatching. The rigid stalks make for excellent arrow shafts and all manners of other tools.
CAUTIONS: Cattails are so proficient at filtering out environmental toxins, that they are commonly used in bioremediation. If the plant tastes overly bitter or spicy - stop eating it immediately, as it is likely contaminated. You are still free to use it for shelters, fires, and anything else you will not be ingesting.











