522 CXXXVI. TYPHACEiE. Typha. 



lateral stamens, the latter of a simple, carinate ovary, with a style 

 and stigma. — ® Herbs, consisting of a frond [stem and leaf coi founded) 

 sending down from the under surface, roots which hang loosely in the 

 water, and 'producing from the margins the spathaccous flowers. 



1. L. TRisuLCA. Inj-kavcd Diick-mcat. 



Fronds elliptic-lanceolate, thin, serrate at one extremity and caudate at 

 the other ; roots solitary. — Floating in ponds and pools of clear water. Fronds 

 nearly i' in length, diaphanous, with a tail-like appendage at base, obtuse at 

 apex, the new ones issuing in a cruciate manner liom lateral fissures in the 

 margin of the old. Root a solitary fibre, ending in a sheath. Flowers very 

 minute. Utricle sitting on the upper surface of the frond. June — Sept. 



2. L. MINOR. Lesser Duck-meat. 



F^ronds nearly ovate, compressed ; root solitary. — This little floating plant 

 occurs in dense patches on the surface of stagnant waters. The leaves, pro- 

 perly fronds, adhere 2 — 3 together, 1' in length, rather thick, and convex below. 

 Root undivided, sheathed at the end. Flowers minute from a cleft in the mar- 

 gin of the fronds, near the base. Jn. — Sept. 



3. L. GiBBA. Gibbous Duck-meal. 



Fronds obovate, hemispherical beneath, nearly plain above ; root solitary. 

 — Floating on the surface of stagnant waters, N. York. Frondi about a line 

 in length, pellucid and reticulated beneath. June — Sept. 



4. L. Poi.YRHizA. (Spirodela. Sck!cide?i.) 



Fronds broad-ovate, a little convex beneath ; roofs numerous. — Floating 

 in stagnant waters. Fronds resembling flax-seed, but larger (2 — 4" long), 

 scattered on the surface of the water, of a firm, but succulent texture, becoming 

 purplish. Roots in thick bundles of 8 — 10 black fibres irom the under surface 

 of the fronds. All these species are eaten by ducks and other aquatic birds. 

 June — Sept. 



Order CXXXVI. TYPHACE^.— Typhads. 



Herbs, growing in marshes or ditches. Stems without joints. 

 Lvs. rigid, ensilbrm, with parallel veins. 

 FIs. moiioecioLis, arranged upon a spadix with no spathe. 

 Cal. — Sepals 3 or 0. CuroUa o. 



Sta. 3 — 6. Kte»j««fs long and slender. Anthers cimeiibrm, erect. 

 Ova. 1, free, Icelled, with a solitary, pendulous ovule. Sti/les short. Stiff. 1—2. 

 Pr. — Utricle with an albuminous seed. 

 Genera 2, species 13, in ditches and marshes throughout the world. 



Genera. 



i lon» and cylindrical Typha. 1 



Spadix of flowers \ globose Uparganium. 2 



1. TYPHA. 



Gr. rv<l>oi, a marsh; where all the species grow. 



Spadix of flowers long, cylindric, dense, c? Stamens about 3 toge- 

 ther, united into a common filament. $ flowers below the sterile ; 

 ovary pedicellate, surrounded at base by a hair-like pappus.^ — Root 

 '4. Spadix terminal. FIs. very numerous. 



1. T. LATIF0I.IA (and angustifolia. Linn.) Cat-tail. Reed Mace. 



Lvs. ensiform, concave within near the base; sterile sjiA fertile spikes close 

 together, or a little remote. — A common, smooth, tall inhabitant of the water 

 in muddy pools and ditches, U. S., Can. The stem arises trom 3 to 5f, round 

 and smooth, leafy below, terminated by the large cylindric spikes. Spikes of a 

 brown color, 6 — 10' in length, coinposed of slender, downy flowers so compact, 

 particularly the fertile ones, as to be of considerable hardness. The upper 

 portion is smaller, composed of the sierile flowers. Leaves somewhat sword- 

 shaped, erect, 2 — 4f long and nearly 1' wide. They are called flags, and made 

 u.seful for weaving the seats of chairs, &c. July. 

 p, angustifolia. Sterile and fertile .'Spikes a little remote (i — 2'). — Found in 



