Cattails

 

I have mentioned before that Vince and Jo Anne's property backs up to a small wetland, which is such a bonus. There are ducks and geese and all kinds of birds behind their condo.  These are Cattails and this is how they work:  the tiny unisexual flowers are borne on a dense cylindrical spike, with the male flowers located above the female flowers. After releasing their pollen, the male flowers wither and fall off, leaving the characteristic brown furry fruiting spikes. When mature, the spike disintegrates to release cottony masses of minute wind-dispersed seeds.  There was a gentle breeze today, and I could see small tufts of "stuff" "from the brown furry fruiting spikes" being blown away from the plant.  It was amazing to watch, and beautiful as well.