Class 2. ANGIOSPERMAE. Seed-vesseled Plants. 



Ovules enclosed in a cavity (ovary), formed either by one modi- 

 fied infolded leaf {carpel) with united margins, or by several 

 united leaves. The apex of the carpel {stigma) is formed of and 

 kept moist by secretive cells; when a pollen grain falls on the stigma, 

 it germinates and sends out a tube which penetrates the tissues of 

 the pistil till it reaches an ovule, which it fertilizes. 



Subclass I. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Embryo with a single seed-leaf; the first leaves alternate. Stem 

 endogenous, i. e., the fibro-vascular bundles irregularly arranged in 

 the soft tissues, without differentiation of pith, wood, and bark. 

 Leaves usually parallel-veined, or the secondary veins running 

 from the midrib to the margins without ramifications. Parts of 

 the flowers mostly in 3's or multiples of 3's. 



Family 5. TYPHACEAE. Cat-tail Family. 



Tall water or marsh plants, with simple glabrous terete stems and creep- 

 ing rootstocks. Leaves alternate, long, linear, striate, sheathing at the 

 base. Flowers monoecious, crowded in dense terminal spike-like racemes, 

 which are subtended by spathaceous, usually deciduous bracts; staminate 

 spike uppermost. Perianth consisting of bristles. Stamens 2-7; filaments 

 connate or free. Ovary 1, stipitate, 1-2-celled; styles 1-2. Fruit nut-like. 

 Endosperm copious, mealy. 



1. TYPHA (Tourn.) L. Cat-tail, Cat-tail Flag. 



Characters of the family. 



Racemes with the staminate and pistillate portions usually separate; pollen of simple 

 grains; fruiting pedicels short, I mm. long or less. 1. T. anguslifolia. 



Racemes with the staminate and pistillate portions usually contiguous; pollen-grains 

 in 4's; fruiting pedicels bristle-like, 2-3 mm. long. 2. T. lati folia. 



1. T. angustifolia L. A slender perennial; stem 1-3 m. high; leaves nar- 

 rowly linear, 3-15 mm. wide, striate, usually plano-convex; racemes light brown; 

 pistillate portion 5-15 mm. in diameter, with bractlets; stigmas linear or linear- 

 oblong; nutlets terete, not bursting in water. Marshes, mostly along the coast: 

 N.S.— Pla. — Mex. — Calif.; Ida.; W. Ind., C. and S. Am., Eurasia. Plains. 



2. T. latifolia L. A stout perennial, 1-2.5 m. high; leaves fiat, 5-25 mm. 

 wide; staminate racemes light brown, with intermixed bractlets, the pistillate 

 ones dark brown or black, without bractlets, each 1-2 dm. long; stigmas rhomboid 

 or spatulate; fruit furrowed, bursting in water. Marshes and shallow lakes: 

 Newf. — Fla. — Mex. — Calif. — B.C. — Mack.; Eurasia. Plain-Sub mo nt. Je-Au. 



Family 6. SPARGANIACEAE. Bur-reed Family. 



Marsh or water plants, with creeping rootstocks, fibrous roots, and linear 

 alternate leaves sheathing at the base. Flowers monoecious, in dense 

 globular heads, the staminate heads uppermost, generally sessile, the pis- 

 tillate ones below, sessile or the lowest peduncled, often subtended by leafy 



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