348 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



pendulous from the top of the cell and anatropous. 

 The fruit is small, leathery, spongy or dry, one-celled, 

 a nut or drupe, and indehiscent. The seeds are 

 single, pendulous, with abundant fleshy or mealy 

 endosperm. The embryo is straight, round in section, 

 with a cleft on one side. 



Pollination is effected by the wind. As the male 

 flowers are above the females, there may also be 

 self-pollination, in spite of the flowers being unisexual, 

 these plants being monoecious. 



Wind also is instrumental in the dispersal of the 

 fruits in Typha, whilst in the Bur Reeds the fruits are 

 crowned by a stiff persistent style and the fruits may 

 catch in the coats of animals. 



In this group there are no plants with properties 

 of economic importance, but the roots of Reed Mace 

 are floury. In New Zealand the pollen has been 

 made into cakes. Other uses for the Reed Mace are 

 given in the description of the species chosen. 



Unbranched Bur Reed {S par ganium simplex). 



A common characteristic of the Bur Reeds is the 

 long, narrow leaves. This is indicated in the 

 generic name, which is the Greek for a little band. 

 The specific name refers to the unbranched spike. 

 Bur Reed has reference to the burr-like fruits. In 

 general the plants have the reed habit. 



This species is found throughout the British Isles, 

 where it is fairly frequent, though more local than 



