522 CXXXVI. TYPHACE^. Ttpha. 



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



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

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

 water, and yroducing from the margins the spathaceous flowers. 



1. L. TRisLLCA. Ivy-lcaved Duck-meat. 



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

 apex,' the new ones issuing in a cruciate manner from 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-meai. 



Fronds 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-nieal. 



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

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

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



4. L. POLYRHizA. (Spirodela. Schleiden.') 



Fronds broad-ovate, a little convex beneath ; roots 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 from the under surface 

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

 June — Sept. 



Order CXXXVI. TYPHACEiE.— Typhads. 



Herbs, gTO\*'ing in marshes or ditches. Stems without joints. 

 Lvs. ngid, ensifbrm, with parallel veins. 

 Fls. mona?cious, arranged upon a spadix with no spathe. 

 Ca/.— Sepals 3 or 0. Corolla 0. 



Sta. 3—6. Fitatnents long and slender. Anthers cuneiform, erect. 

 Ova. 1, free, 1-celled, with a solitarj', pendulous ovule. Styles short. Stig. 1—2. 

 fV.— Utricle with an albuminous seed. 

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



Genera. 



k long and cylindrical Typha. l 



Spadix of flowers { glooose Sparganium. t 



1. TYPHA. 



G'r. Tv<poi, a marsh ; where all the species grow. 



Spadix of flowers long, cylindric, dense. ^ Stamens about 3 toge- 

 ther, united into a common filament. 9 flowers below the sterile ; 

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

 %. Spafli.c terminal. Fls. very numerous. 



1. T. LATiFOLiA (and angustifolia. Linn.') Cat-tail. Reed Mace. 

 Ia's. ensiform, concave within near the base; sterile and 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 from 3 to 5f, round 

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

 brown color, 6 — 10' in length, compo.sed of slender, downy flowers so compact, 

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

 portion is smaller, composed of the sterile flov.^ers. Leaves somewhat sword- 

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

 useful ibr weaving the seals of chairs, &c. July. 



/?. august ifnl in. Sterile and J-rtile spikes a little remote (i— 2').— Found in 



