354 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



water-tight casks. The leaves were placed between 

 the staves. The pollen has been used in place of 

 Club Moss spores for flashing sparks of fireworks, 

 being very inflammable. The plant is ornamental 

 and might be grown in artificial pools. 



Typha latifolia. — The illustration {Fig. 98) gives 

 an idea of the habitat. Note the long leaves in two rows 

 overtopping the inflorescence, which is a long spike, with 

 male flowers above, female below, 



84. The Cuckoo Pint Group. 



In the Order Araceae are included amongst British 

 plants Lords-and-Ladies and the Sweet Flag. The 

 group includes 1000 species and 105 genera. They 

 are natives of Tropical and Temperate regions, mainly 

 Tropical. 



They are related to the Screw Pine Group and the 

 Reed Mace group. 



The habit of the plants of this group is varied. 

 Many are herbaceous plants, others are shrubs, some 

 are climbing epiphytes. The Sweet Flag and others 

 grow in aquatic or marsh vegetation. Aquatic 

 type are represented by Pistia. 



Adventitious roots are formed. In larger types 

 there are aerial, climbing roots and absorbent roots. 

 The former do not respond to gravity, the latter do 

 respond to gravity and grow downwards. 



The stem is occasionally monopodial, usually sym- 

 podial. The rootstock consists of a tuber or rhizome. 

 There are scale-leaves below the foliage-leaves. In 



