What is the difference between cattails and typha?

Cattails and Typha refer to the same group of wetland plants, with "Typha" being the scientific genus name that encompasses various species commonly known as cattails. These plants are characterized by their tall, slender stems and distinctive brown, cylindrical flower spikes. While "cattails" is the common name used in everyday language, "Typha" is used in scientific contexts to classify and describe the plants. Thus, the primary difference lies in the terminology used rather than any botanical distinction.