16 TYPHACEA\—REED-MACE TRIBE 
other, both cylindrical ; the common stalk scaly; perennial. This species, — 
which is much smaller than the last, is not generally distributed. It is, 
however, common on the river and pool sides in some places, as in the neigh- 
bourhood of London. The stem is about four or five feet high, the catkins 
not nearly so thick as in the common species, and the leaves not so broad. 
A plant called 7. minor, with narrow bristled leaves, and mostly distant 
spikes, is described by Dillenius as having grown on Hounslow Heath, but 
nothing has been known of it in recent years. 
2. BUR-REED (Spargdnium). 
1. Branched Bur-reed (S. ramésum).—Leaves triangular at the base, 
their sides concave ; common flower-stalks branched ; stigma linear ; peren- 
nial. This plant is well named Bur-reed, from the clustered fruits which, 
during autumn, look like large burs. It is one of our commonest aquatics, 
and is two or three feet high, with a green sturdy branched stem, having on 
its upper part long narrow leaves, which wave in the winds with a rustling 
sound. In July and August the flowers appear growing in dense globular 
heads; the barren ones small and olive-brown until the yellow anthers spread 
and make them appear as large as the lower ones, which contain the fertile 
flowers. After the flowers, the globular heads of seeds enlarge till they are 
of the size of a small apple. They are at first green, gradually becoming 
brown, when the ripened seeds fall. These are about as large, as firm and 
as heavy as a grain of barley. 
2. Unbranched Upright Bur-reed (S. sémplex).—Leaves triangular 
at the base, their sides flat ; common flower-stalk unbranched ; stigma linear ; 
perennial. This, which is a common water-plant, is readily distinguished 
from the last species by its unbranched flower-stalk. It is about two feet 
high, and altogether smaller than the Branched Bur-reed. It grows in 
ditches, and by the sides of lakes and pools, and bears in July and August 
globular heads of pale yellow flowers. 
3. Floating Bur-reed (S. ndians).—Leaves floating, flat; common 
flower-stalk unbranched; stigma egg-shaped, very short, perennial. This 
species, though more abundant in the pools, lakes, and rivers at the north of 
this kingdom, is widely distributed. It flowers in July, rising but a few 
inches above the surface of the water, and it has very long transparent 
leaves. A more slender form is recognised as a sub-species under the name 
of S. minimum. 
Order XCVI. AROIDEAZX—ARUM TRIBE. 
Stamens and pistils separate, but on the same plant; flowers arranged 
on a spadix or central column, and enclosed in a sheath ; perianth none ; 
stamens numerous, sessile on the spadix ; ovaries numerous, sessile below 
the stamens; stigmas sessile; fruit a fleshy berry. This is a remarkable 
tribe of perennial plants, possessing acrid and even poisonous properties, 
which are, however, removed by some means of preparing the roots, when 
they may be used as food. ‘They are abundant in tropical countries, and the 
