THE MONOCOTYLEDOXES 



2019 



Monocotyledons. This was in keeping with the idea of the primitive nature 

 of the Amentiferae among the Dicotyledons. As we have seen, the families 

 included in the latter group are now regarded as reduced types derived from 

 relatively advanced families, this reduction having been brought about by 

 the adoption of anemophilous pollination. It is not surprising to find 

 therefore that the same view is held regarding these families, which are 

 also anemophilous. Hutchinson considers that while the Typhaceae and 

 Sparganiaceae are closely related they bear little relationship to the 

 Pandanaceae. He considers that the former families have orginated by 

 reduction from the Liliaceae, while he thinks that the Pandanaceae are an 

 advanced group, having originated from the Palms, to which they certainly 

 bear a certain resemblance. 



Since both the Typhaceae and Spargan- 

 iaceae are represented in the British Flora 

 we shall briefly review their more important 

 characters. 



Fig. 1956. — Typha 

 latifolia. Reed Mace. 

 Inflorescence with 

 staminate flowers 

 above and carpellate 

 flowers below.. 



Fig. 1957. — Sparganiiou simplex. 

 Flowering shoot. 



The Typhaceae include the single genus Typha with twelve species 

 found widely in tropical and temperate regions. T. latifolia (Reed Mace) 

 (Fig. 1956) and T. angiistifolia occur in ditches, ponds, lakes and river 



