4 



in fig. 7, tape-like bodies, having several rows of elongated cells, 



which are apparently knotted at their junction. 



Mingled with the fertile flowers are many rudimentary flow- 

 ers, if we may regard them as such, which' in some instances re- 

 semble the fertile in shape and size, but generally much shorter 

 and club-shaped at the summit, which also are surrgunded at the 

 base by perigonial set^, but show no trace of an ovary, (See 

 figures 2, 4 and 13). In many of the species mixed with the fer- 

 tile and sterile flowers are very slender bracts like those described 

 above as occurring in the staminate spike. (See figures 5, 14). 

 The stigmas and ends of the bracts are of a rusty tinge, and their 

 projecting tips impart the well-known hues of dark and light 

 brown to the spikes. 



So closely packed are the flowers, that I have counted, within 

 the distance of an eighth of an inch, in a pistillate spike of 

 T, angitstifolia^ over 1,500 ripe fruit, besides the accompanying 

 sterile flowers and bracts. Therefore a fruiting spike 5 inches 

 in length, an average size, must yield, at the lowest calculation, 

 a crop of 60,000 seeds; and as spikes 7 and 8 inches long are 

 not unfrequent, the yield in some cases will be half as many 

 more. When taking to the air the perigonial setse expand, as 

 shown in fig. 3, and the seed sails away on a balloon like thistle 

 down. Think, then, of one plant committing to the winds nearly 

 100,000 seeds; and try to estimate the enormous number that 

 must be produced in the acres covered by a single Typha jungle 

 like that on the Hackensack meadow, near the city of New 

 York ! 



The plants of the Typha family serve several uses which are 

 worthy of notice. Sir Joseph Hooker states that the inhabitants 

 of Scind and New Zealand make bread from the pollen. As this 

 is very abundant, falling like meal out of^a bag at the time of 



fertiHzation. we can easily imagine it capable of such a use. The 

 roots might perhaps be employed In a similar manner, if dried 

 and ground into flour, as they are farinaceous and often quite 

 long. 



Prof W. R. Dudley states that in central New^ York the long 

 leaves are used quite extensively in the manufacture of chair- 

 bottoms ;^they arejalso woven into baskets, for which they are 



