蒲草分布较广，常生长于河湖岸边沼泽地，是我国的一种野生蔬菜，其假茎白嫩部分（即蒲菜）和地下匍匐茎尖端的幼嫩部分（即草芽）可以食用，味道清爽可口。

蒲菜

蒲草草芽

把蒲草整株从水塘里拔出，你就可以发现白净的硕大的根茎，富含水分和营养；蒲草的叶子可以食用，也可以用来制作避难所或者其他器皿；蒲草的芦棒在春季可以食用，秋季可以当做生活的火引，冬天可以填充在衣物里保暖。最重要的是蒲草的花粉（夏季）有止血的作用。

Cattails 蒲草

In many of the wetter parts of the world, cattails can be a great edible wild food. The large roots, or rhizomes, as well as the lower part of the stem, can be eaten either raw or boiled, and the leaves can be boiled and eaten like any other cooked greens. The flower spike can also be eaten raw, but usually only in the spring, when the growth is still tender and young. Once the flower spike is mature, the pollen can be collected from it and used as a flour or addition to other wild plant dishes.