Narrow-leaved Cattail is the less common of the two cattail species found in New York.  It can be told apart from the closely related Common Cattail by the narrower, slightly rounded leaf, thinner flower spike, and the group of male flowers separated from the female flowers by a short stalk.  Narrow-leaved is somewhat uncommon inland, but much more abundant near the coast.  Cattails of both species are important wetland plants providing cover, food, and insect life important to many water birds, mammals, and reptiles.