TYPHACEA—_REED-MACE TRIBE 15 
I-seeded, not opening. ‘This is a small order of herbaceous plants, with 
creeping rootstocks, jointless stems, and sword-shaped leaves, common in 
marshes and ditches. 
1. REED-MACE (7'ypha).—Flowers in long spikes ; perianth none, except 
hairs ; stamens surrounded with hairs ; anthers 3 together on one filament ; 
ovary stalked, with hairs at its base. Name from the Greek tiphos, a marsh, 
from the place of growth. 
2. BUR-REED (Spargdénium).—F lowers in dense globular heads, each with 
a single perianth of 3 scales; stamens 3 in the barren flower; stigma of 
fertile flower awl-shaped. Name from the Greek sparganon, a little band, 
from the long leaves. 
1. CAT’S-TAIL, OR REED-MACE (Z'ypha). 
1. Great Reed-mace (7. latifvlia).—Leaves linear, somewhat convex 
beneath ; catkin continuous, its common stalk hairy ; perennial. During 
the months of July and August, few plants are more conspicuous than the 
Great Reed-mace among the reeds and sedges which fringe our lakes and 
pools. Its round erect stem is often six feet high, and its leaves an inch 
broad, three or four feet long, and of a bluish colour. The long spikes of 
flowers on their reedy stem render its name of Reed-mace very appropriate ; 
the fertile spike is thick and brown, often a foot long, bearing at its summit 
the long slender yellow terminal barren one, which has one or two large bracts. 
Village people call the plant Bulrush, and believe that it was woven into the 
cradle for the infant Moses ; and Rubens and other Italian painters represent 
our Saviour as holding this plant in His hand, when, in cruel mockery, a 
Reed was given Him as a sceptre. The flower abounds in yellow pollen, 
which is so inflammable, that if a candle is applied to it, it instantly produces 
a flash of light. It was on this account formerly used, instead of the spores 
of the club-mosses, in exhibitions of fireworks ; but it is not easily collected 
in any quantity. Professor Burnett says, that it is a good stimulant in the 
cure of diseased skin; and Gerarde records that the “downe of the Reed- 
mace hath been proved to heale kibed or humbled heels, as they are termed, 
either before or after the skin is broken.” As the brown portion of the 
catkin ripens, the downy tufts, which are very numerous, loosen from their 
hold, and, becoming gradually detached, fly in multitudes on the summer 
breeze. They are sometimes used for filling pillows and mattresses ; and 
Kalm mentions that the Swedes formerly placed this down in their beds 
instead of feathers, but that it became matted and entangled in the course 
of time. The long leaves are used in thatching ; mats and baskets are made 
of them; and coopers sometimes put them between the staves of casks to 
prevent leakage. The Swedes lay these leaves beneath the horse’s saddle to 
relieve the pressure. Haller mentions that the roots are eaten in saled, 
The plant contributes much to the luxuriant growth of our aquatic herbage, 
inasmuch as, with its companions by the water-side, by its successive growth 
and decomposition, it renders the soil fitted for more important plants. The 
Reed-mace is in Kent often called Flax-tail ; the French call it Massette. 
2. Lesser Reed-mace (7. angustifélia).—Leaves linear, convex beneath, 
channelled above; barren and fertile spikes usually separated from each 
