Typha latifolia
Cat's-Tail at Mount Clear, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Typha latifolia | JaneR | 15 May 2025 | |
| Typha orientalis | MichaelMulvaney | 24 Mar 2022 | |
| Typha orientalis | JaneR | 23 Mar 2022 |
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User's notes
A few plants have established in Naas Creek.
It would be a shame if these established plants spread
4 comments
24 Mar 2022
Hi Michael
yes, it is a native, but it is an invasive native species. But if you have ever visited a typha swamp, you would be struck by the lack of biodiversity. This species is a very effective competitor. Because it has a robust rhizome and clonal growth, it can form tall dense mono-specific stands that exclude other plants: so it has the potential to lead to displacement and exclusion of small non-woody species.
I think of it as an ecosystem engineer, with potential to ecologically change a wetland system: and it is very resistant to management once established.
Recently (ie this 2022 summer) I have noticed isolated plants in quite a few wetland or swampy places in Namadgi, all young (ie 1-2 years old). Probably colonising following disturbance sequence of drought-fire-floods. It produces huge number of wind-dispersed seeds (little parasols, like a daisy): a few hundred thousand per spike.
Its native yes. But my opinion is that European settlement has helped it to extend its range and spread across landscapes by providing habitats for it to colonise and persist (farms dams; constructed wetlands; suburban lakes; weir pools; some storages).
That's my take !
cheers
jane
yes, it is a native, but it is an invasive native species. But if you have ever visited a typha swamp, you would be struck by the lack of biodiversity. This species is a very effective competitor. Because it has a robust rhizome and clonal growth, it can form tall dense mono-specific stands that exclude other plants: so it has the potential to lead to displacement and exclusion of small non-woody species.
I think of it as an ecosystem engineer, with potential to ecologically change a wetland system: and it is very resistant to management once established.
Recently (ie this 2022 summer) I have noticed isolated plants in quite a few wetland or swampy places in Namadgi, all young (ie 1-2 years old). Probably colonising following disturbance sequence of drought-fire-floods. It produces huge number of wind-dispersed seeds (little parasols, like a daisy): a few hundred thousand per spike.
Its native yes. But my opinion is that European settlement has helped it to extend its range and spread across landscapes by providing habitats for it to colonise and persist (farms dams; constructed wetlands; suburban lakes; weir pools; some storages).
That's my take !
cheers
jane
24 Mar 2022
Thanks Jane
@ACTParks-InvasivePlantsTeam @NathanaelC
This is a thorny one - I wonder whether we should try and keep one of teh Namadgi creek catchments free of Typha
@ACTParks-InvasivePlantsTeam @NathanaelC
This is a thorny one - I wonder whether we should try and keep one of teh Namadgi creek catchments free of Typha
15 May 2025
on revisiting this photo, I am pretty sure it is the introduced species, Typha latifolia; which seems to be spreading northwards into the ACT and adjacent NSW.
Attention to ACT Parks
@ACTParks-InvasivePlantsTeam @NathanaelC
Attention to ACT Parks
@ACTParks-InvasivePlantsTeam @NathanaelC
Location information
- Coordinates 148.923997-35.808706
- Altitude 1162.6m
- Maps Namadgi National Park
- Places Mount Clear, ACT
Sighting information
- At least 1 Abundance
- 23 Mar 2022 02:40 PM Recorded on
- JaneR Recorded by
- 1 metre to 5 metres Plant height
- Yes In flower
Collections
- Illilanga conservation, rehabilitation & restoration info JaneR NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands ACT Priority Weeds Typha latifolia Rushes, Sedges & Mat Rushes Plants
Species information
- Typha latifolia Scientific name
- Cat's-Tail Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Exotic
- Minor weed or pest
- Up to 1163m Recorded at altitude
-
Synonyms
Gummiuk
Record quality
Quality score
5 / 7
- Images or audio
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Description
- Additional attributes
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species