158 REPORT OK NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



TYPHA L. 



Typha latifolia L. Broad-leaved Cat-tail. 



Typha latifolia Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 971. 1753 [Europe]. — Muhlenberg Gramineae 

 213. — Knieskerh 30. — Britton 251. 



Swamps along the coast or borders of rivers and less fre- 

 quently in isolated swamps in the interior ; rare in the Pine 

 Barrens, where it always seems to spring up in burned swamps, 

 or excavations, usually disappearing later. 



Fl. — Mid-June to late June. Fr. — Mid-July to late August. 



Middle District. — Farmingdale, Swcdesboro, Mickleton (H). 

 Coast Strip. — Forked River, Beach Haven Terrace (L). 

 Pine Barrens. — Wildwood, Egg Harbor City. 

 Cape May.— S. Dennis (S), Goshen (S). 



Typha angustifolia L. Narrow-leaved or Coast Cat-tail. 



Typha angustifolia Linnaeus, Sp. PI. 971. 1753 [Europe]. — Muhlenberg 

 Gramineae 213. — Knieskern 30. — Barton H. 149. — Britton 252. 



Distribution similar to the last, but much more plentiful along 

 salt or brackish water and rare in the northern counties. 



The Coast Cat-tail cover large areas of coastal and river marsh, 

 forming safe retreat and shelter for many swamp-loving birds. 

 Sometim.es the growth is almost pure, in other places it is mixed 

 with the Broad-leaved Cat-tail, or skirted by Rose Mallow, Wild 

 Rice, etc., while here and there patches of Reed (Phragmites) are 

 interspersed. 



In summer the slender, erect, green leaves swaying in unison, 

 rank upon rank, seem to be constantly changing their tone as 

 they reflect the light and shadows from the sun and the passing 

 clouds, while the effect produced by a stray breeze is like great 

 billows traversing a broad green sea. In winter the yellow stalks 

 and dry leaves rattling in the bleak wind still furnish shelter for 

 the birds and present a warm spot in the otherwise dreary land- 

 scape. And with every attempt to push one's way through them 

 clouds of the downy seeds are dislodged and go whirling away 

 on the wind or cover the intruder until he appears literally 

 "tarred and feathered." 



Fl. — Early June to mid-June. Fr. — ^Mid-July to late August. 



