20 FOUNDATIONS OF BOTANY 



CLASS II. — ANGIOSPERMS. 



Plants with a closed ovary, in which the seeds are matured. 

 Cotyledons 1 or 2. 



SUBCLASS I. — MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



Stems with the fibro-vascular bundles scattered among the 

 parenchyma cells ; in perennial plants no annual rings of 

 wood. Leaves usually parallel-veined, alternate, nearly 

 always entire. Parts of the flower generally in threes 

 (never in fives). Cotyledon 1. 



2. TYPHACEiE. Cat-tail Family. 



Perennial marsh or aquatic plants. Rootstock stout, creep- 

 ing; stem simple, cylindrical, erect. Leaves simple, strap- 

 shaped, sheathing at the base, nerved and striate. Flowers 

 monoecious, in a single terminal spike, staminate part of the 

 spike uppermost, each part subtended by spathe-like deciduous 

 bracts ; perianth of fine bristles ; staminate flowers sessile ; 

 stamens 2-7. Filaments connate, subtended by minute bracts ; 

 pistillate flowers short-pediceled. Ovary 1-2-celled ; styles 

 1-2. Fruit small, nut-like.* 



TYPHA, Tourn. 

 Characters of the family. 



1. T. latifolia, L. Cat-tail. Stem erect, jointed below, 5-8 ft. 

 high. Leaves nearly as long as the stem, about 1 in. wide, netted 

 and with a bloom. Spike cylindrical, dark brown or black ; staminate 

 portion above the pistillate, usually without any interval between 

 them, each 4-8 in. long and about 1 in. in diameter. Fruit furrowed. 

 Common in marshes and shallow ponds.* 



