Typha latifolia

Cat's-Tail at Yaouk, NSW

Typha latifolia at Yaouk, NSW - suppressed
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Identification history

Typha latifolia 26 Oct 2023 JaneR
Typha orientalis 25 Oct 2023 Tapirlord
Typha sp. 25 Oct 2023 natureguy
Typha orientalis 25 Oct 2023 JARS

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11 comments

Tapirlord wrote:
   25 Oct 2023
Pretty sure it is T.orientalis, it is quite common in this creek system.
JARS wrote:
   25 Oct 2023
Thank you!
JaneR wrote:
   25 Oct 2023
That near blackish colour is closer to the introduced species, T. Latifolia than to T. Orientalist.
hope I am wrong !
Tapirlord wrote:
   25 Oct 2023
Perhaps some closer focused images are in order?
JARS wrote:
   25 Oct 2023
Hope it's not T. Latifolia! I don't have any more photos, but can try to be there next time it is flowering.
JaneR wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
changed to Typha latifolia, which has been recorded from southern NSW.
I have seen a lot of T. orientalis and none were 'black' like this, which is signature colour for T. latifolia.
Tapirlord wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
Did you mean to reconfirm the ID Jane? I'm happy to go with your expertise, though I'm a bit hesitant given the location. More images would be fantastic.
JaneR wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
Yes, I did mean to re-confirm: thanks for picking that up.

I am a bit concerned calling this orientalis, given that the colour of the spike (black-brown) is distinctive for latifolia: and is actually one of the characteristics used in FloraVic to separate latifolia from the two native species.
More photos won't change the colour: closer inspection needed.
Can you explain why the location is a concern for you, Ciaran?
Tapirlord wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
I had thought this species was more or less a weed of the urban enviroment, and this site up in the alps would be quite a ways from other records. However there are a couple of other DPS records from neighbouring valleys so perhaps it is already here. It is a shame as the habitat up here is of high quality.
JaneR wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
if in the area, the best thing to do is to chop off the flowering spikes before seed is distributed: propagule pressure is a major reason for successful invasion, and these flowering spikes carry loads of seeds in the hundreds of thousands.
JARS wrote:
   26 Oct 2023
Thanks for alerting us. Sounds like it needs removing!
Last summer was the first time we'd seen it.
It was very limited in distribution - only in the cluster photographed.
We'll see if we can find it before it flowers again.

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • 1 metre to 5 metres Plant height
  • True In flower

Species information

  • Typha latifolia Scientific name
  • Cat's-Tail Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Exotic
  • Minor weed or pest
  • Up to 1163m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • In flower
  • Ngunnawal language

    Gummiuk

Record quality

  • Images or audio
  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
  • GPS evidence of location
  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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