I found this unique sculpture on top of a fountain one day when I was out and about.
After doing research, I found that this is a very important plant for nature's creatures and humans. Cattails are a source of food and cover for wildlife and can be found on the edges of ponds, streams and marshes. They are wetland plants which is most likely the reason for the sculpture to be placed on top of a fountain. The stems can grow to be 3-10 feet high and they have a spike that resembles a sausage or a corn dog. The slender top part of the spike has male flowers, and the sausage-shaped part of the spike has female flowers. The male flowers are loaded with pollen and the flowers fall off after the pollen is released. The flowers on the sausage-shape spike become fluffy seeds in autumn. The fluff of the seeds has many industrial uses. It can be used as a filling in mattresses, pillows, and life jackets, and it can also replace glass wool as an insulating material in buildings. And, the Cattail leaves are used in the making of paper.
The entire plant is edible for humans. I will start from the bottom and work my way up. The stems are called "Rhizomes" and they spread across, under the muddy ground. The rhizomes are rich in starch. It can be ground and used as flour, and it can also be boiled and used as a vegetable. The stem of a young cattail in the spring, tastes similar to a cucumber and can be eaten as a vegetable; cooked or raw. The young green flower stalks in the spring can be boiled and eaten like corn on the cob. The pollen is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and it has a nice flavor. It can be used as a baking supplement for bread, pancake batter, and cookie dough.
There are several medicinal uses of the Cattail plant also. The rhizomes (roots) and leaves are easily digested and can be used for treating stomach cramps. When the rhizome is boiled and mashed, it can be used to treat burns and sores. And, the flowers can be used to help diarrhea.
THANKS FOR LOOKING!
Information Source: cattails.info, softschools.com, brtiannica.com, stillnessinthestorm.com, wordpress.com
Image Source: 100% own work.