68 



TYPHACEAE. 



VOL. 1. 



Class 2. ANGIO8PERMAE. 



Ovules (macrosporanges) enclosed in a cavity (the ovary) formed by the 

 infolding and uniting of the margins of a modified rudimentary leaf (carpel), or 

 of several such leaves joined together, in which the seeds are ripened. The pollen- 

 grains (microspores) on alighting upon the summit of the carpel (stigma) germi- 

 nate, sending out a pollen-tube which penetrates its tissue and reaching an ovule 

 enters the orifice of the latter (micropyle), and its tip coming in contact with a 

 germ-cell in the embryo-sac, fertilization is effected. In a few cases the pollen- 

 tube enters the ovule at the chalaza, not at the micropyle. 



Cotyledon one; stem endogenous. Sub-class i. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Cotyledons almost always two ; stem (with rare exceptions) exogenous. 



Sub-claSS 2. DlCOTYLEDONES. 



Sub-class i. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Embryo of the seed with but a single cotyledon and the first leaves of the 

 germinating plantlet alternate. Stem composed of a ground-mass of soft tissue 

 (parenchyma) in which bundles of wood-cells are irregularly imbedded; no dis- 

 tinction into wood, pith and bark. Leaves usually parallel-veined, mostly alternate 

 :and entire, commonly sheathing the stem at the base and often with no distinction 

 <of blade and petiole. Flowers mostly 3-merous or 6-merous. 



Monocotyledonous plants are first definitely known in Triassic time. They constitute between 

 One-fourth and one-third of the living angiospermous flora. 



Family i. TYPHACEAE J. St. Hil. Expos. Fam. i: 60. 1805. 



CAT-TAIL FAMILY. 



Marsh or aquatic plants with creeping rootstocks, fibrous roots and glabrous 

 erect, terete stems. Leaves linear, flat, ensiform, striate, sheathing at the base. 

 Flowers monoecious, densely crowded in terminal spikes, which are subtended by 

 spathaceous, usually fugacious bracts, and divided at intervals by smaller bracts, 

 which are caducous, the staminate spikes uppermost. Perianth of bristles. Stamens 

 2-7, the filaments connate. Ovary i, stipitate, i-2-celled. Ovules anatropous. 

 Styles as many as the cells of the ovary. Mingled among the stamens and pistils 

 are bristly hairs, and among the pistillate flowers many sterile flowers with clavate 

 tips. Fruit nutlike. Endosperm copious. Only the following genus : 



i. TYPHA [Tourn.] L. Sp. PI. 971. 1753. 



Characters of the family. [Name ancient.] 



About 10 species, of temperate and tropical regions. Type species: Typha latifolia L. 



Spikes with the pistillate and staminate usually contiguous, the former without bractlets ; stigmas 



spatulate or rhomboid; pollen 4-grained. i. T. latifolia. 



Spikes with the pistillate and staminate usually distant, the former with bractlets ; stigmas linear 



or oblong-linear ; pollen in simple grains. 2. T. angustifolia. 



i. Typha latifolia L. Broad-leaved Cat-tail. 

 Fig- 159- 



Typha latifolia L. Sp. PI. 971. 1753. 



Stems stout, 4-8 high. Leaves 3"-i2" broad; 

 spikes dark brown or black, the staminate and pistil- 

 late portions usually contiguous, each 3'-i2' long and 

 often i' or more in diameter, the pistillate without 

 bractlets ; stigmas rhomboid or spatulate ; pollen- 

 grains in 4*s ; pedicels of the mature pistillate flowers 

 i"-il" long. 



In marshes, throughout North America except the 

 exterme north. Ascends to 1600 ft. in the Adirondacks 

 and to 2200 ft. in Virginia. Also in Europe and Asia. 

 June-July. Fruit, Aug.-Sept. Called also Great-Reed- 

 mace, Cat-o'-nine-tail, Marsh Beetle. Marsh Pestle, Cat- 

 tail Flag, Flax-tail. Blackamoor, Black-cap, Bull-segg, 

 Bubrush, Water-torch, Candlewick. 



