142 FLOWERS OF LAKES, RIVERS, ETC. 



D. cincrea, Thysanoptera, Thrips ccrcatuni, Lepidoptera, Reed Wains- 

 cot [N'onagria cannce), Bulrush [N. typlue), N. spa7-ganii, l-'enn's 

 Nonagria {N. brevilined). Gold Spot [P/itsia fcs/ncce), Chilo paludellns, 

 Lavcriia pliragniitella, a Heteropterous insect, Chilacis (yp/ia-, are 

 found on it. 



Typha, Theophrastus, is from the drci-k tuplu\ and the second 

 Latin name refers to the wide leaves. JJulrush was formerly pole- 

 rush or pool-rush. 



Reed-mace is called Baccobolts, March or Marish Beede, Black- 

 amoor, Blackcap, Blackheads, P)lack-[)uddinos, Bullrush, Bull-segg, 

 Cat-o'-nine-tails, Cat's-spear, Cat's-tail, Cats-tails, Club-rush, Dod, 

 Dunce Down, Dunche Down, Flag, Flax-tail, Holy Pokers, Lance- 

 for-a-lad, Levers, Livers, Lyvers, Reed Mace, March Pestill, Marsh 

 Pestill, Mat-reed or Mat-weed, Pokers, Seggs, Serge, Son's Brow, 

 Sooti[)illies, Water Torch, Whiteheads. Turner says: " It niaye be 

 also called rede mace because boyes use it in their handes in the 

 stede of a mace". It is called "Whiteheads when the downy matter 

 has ripened and lost the colour which leads to the designation Black- 

 heatls ". The name Baccobolts is given because the female spikes 

 are supposed to be like a roll of tobacco. It is called March or 

 Marish Beetle in reference to the form of its inflorescence, and 

 because it grows in marshes. The name Black -puddings is given 

 from the shape and colour of the tlovverheads. Dod is the Reed- 

 mace in the North of England. i )Lniche Down is ap|)lied to it 

 "because the downe of this herbe will cause one to be deate, if it 

 happens to fall into the ears, as Matthiolus vvriteth ", according to Lyte. 

 The name Flax-tail refers to the fruiting heads, which are downy like 

 finely combed flax. 



Reed-mace was used traditionally by witches as a besom upon which 

 they were supposed to fly. It has been placed in the hand of Christ as 

 the rod given to Him to carry, by Rubens and other painters. If a light 

 is applied to the pollen it takes fire very quickly, and has been used for 

 fireworks. The roots have been eaten in salads, and the leaves are 

 relished by cattle. Pillows are stuffed with the downy flowers. The 

 leaves are used for making casks watertight. Mats are made from the 

 leaves, baskets, chair-bottoms, thatch. The rhizomes are farinaceous, 

 and the pollen has been made into cakes in India and New Zealand. 



Essential Specific Characters: — 



309. Typha latifolia, L. — Stem tall, leaves very tall, longer than 

 the scape, linear, flowers in a long spike, the )ellow male flowers above 

 the silkv, brown females. 



