T. latifolia & T. angustifolia
 
Common and Narrow-Leaved Cattails

T. latifolia & T. angustifolia in Ground

Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park
03-August-2013

T. latifolia, on the left side of the picture, does not have a gap between the pistillate and staminate portions of the spike.  T. angustifolia, on the right side of the picture, has a gap of 3 to 5 cm separating the pistillate and staminate portions of the spike.  In addition, the pistillate portion of the spike is thicker on T. latifolia than on T. angustifolia.

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Latifolia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this species. 
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staminate part of spike contiguous with pistillate part; NOT [staminate part of spike separated from pistillate part by 3-5 cm]

 

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Typhaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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plants not aquatic, or if growing in water, most of the plant emersed; NOT [plants aquatic, floating or submerged, with floating leaves or emersed inflorescence]

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inflorescence a dense, single, cylindrical spike 8-15 cm long, 1-2.5 cm thick; NOT [inflorescence not as above; if a single spike, less than 1 cm thick]

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spike bractless; NOT [spike subtended by a large bract or spathe]

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spike not fleshy

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perianth absent or inconspicuous; NOT [perianth present, conspicuous, in two series of 3 segments, often brightly colored]