Cattails are rooted, emergent plants of wetlands, shallow waters and wet ditches.  They are rhizomatous, often forming large, dense colonies.  The plants are monoecious with cylindrical spikes of unisexual flowers  located on the same stem.  The male flowers are located at the top of the stem and shrivel and fall away after shedding pollen.  Female flowers are located at the bottom of the stem and mature into compact mass of fruits.