TTPHACEAB 301 



ORDER CL TYPHACEAE. ,* 7 



Marsh herls: leaves sessile, sheathing at base, narrow-ensifonn, or linear; flower* 

 monoicous. in a dense oylindric spadix-like spike, or glomerate in Twads, destitute 

 of proper floral envelopes; fruit nut-like, or a sort of dry drupe, indehiscent, 

 mostly 1-seeded; seed suspended; embryo straight, in copious albumen. 



401. TY V PHA, Tournef. 

 [Or. Tiphos, a bog, or marsh; from its place of growth.] 

 Flowers in a long dense terminal cylindric interrupted spike, or 

 spadix, with an intervening caducous spathe, the upper portion 

 consisting of stamens only, intermixed with simple hairs, the lower 

 consisting of ovaries surrounded by numerous clavate bristles ; style 

 simple ; stigma unilateral, tongue-shaped. Nutlets minute, pedicel- 

 late. Smooth perennials: rhizoma creeping; stems, or culms, sim- 

 ple, without nodes (except at base, where the leaves originate) ; 

 leaves narrow-ensifonn, or linear, thickish, erect, about as long as 

 the culm. 



1. T. latifolia, L. Leaves ensifonn-linear, nearly flat; stami- 

 nate and pistillate portions of the spike contiguous. 

 BROAD-LEAVED TYPHA. Cat-tail. Cooper's Keed. Heed-mace. 



Oulm 4 or 5 feet high, terete, leafy at base. Leaves % to % of an inch wide, 

 tapering at apex, but obtuse. Staminate spike 6 to 8 inches long, and near an inch 

 in diameter, yellowish-brown, the sheathing bract, or spathe, membranaceous, as 

 long as the spike. Pistillate spike 4 to 6 inches long, % an inch to % in diameter, 

 greenish-brown. 

 Hob. Borders of pools: frequent. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The leaves of this plant were formerly used, by Coopers, to 

 secure the joints in the heads of casks from leaking; and the hairy 

 fruit, from the mature spikes, is sometimes collected by poor people 

 to fill their beds. It is, however, a miserable substitute for feath- 

 ers, or hair, and even for clean oats chaif, corn-husks, or cut straw. 



2. T. ailgnstif olia, L. Leaves narrowly linear, channelled 

 near the base ; staminate and pistillate portions of the spike a little 

 distant. 



NARROW-LEAVED TYPHA. Small Cat-tail. 



(Mm 3 to 5 feet high, slender. Leaves Y & to % of an inch wide, nearly linear 

 throughout. Staminate and pistillate spikes %to% of an inch in diameter, and 

 separated by a naked space of 1 to 2 inches between them. 

 Hab. Pools, and wet places; near Unionville : rare. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. These species appear to be common to both hemispheres. 



4O8. SPARGAUTIUM, Tournef. 

 [Gr. Sparganon, a fillet, or band; from its ribbon-like leaves.] 

 Flowers in dense globose heads, which are scattered along the stem 

 near the summit, in the axils of leaf-like bructs, the upper heads 

 consisting of stamens, with minute scales interposed, the lower 

 heads larger, consisting of sessile pistils, each surrounded by 3 to 

 6 calyx-like scales. Fruit a sort of dry drupe, turbinate and acu- 

 minate. Smooth perennials : root fibrous ; leaves linear, obtuse. 



1. S. Americanuin, Nuttall. Stem mostly simple; leaves tri- 



