^^0 TYPHACEJE. (cat-tail FAMILY.) 



moro than 2 or 3 in connection. — Occurs in Arizona anvl southward : but tha 

 true plant seems not to liave been detccled within our limits. (Eu.) 



2. WOLFPIA, Horkel, Schlei.len. 

 Flowers central, bursting tlirougli the upper surface of the globular (or in some 

 foreign ones flat) and loosely cellular frond, only 2; one consisting of a single 

 stamen with a one celled 2-valved anther; the other of a globular ovary, tipped 

 with a very short style and a depressed stigma. Ovule orthotropous, rather 

 oblique in the cell. Utricle spherical. Albumen thin. — Fronds rootless, prolif- 

 erous from a cleft or funnel-shaped opening at the base, the offspring soon 

 detached : no rhaphides. — The simjjlest and smallest of flowcJring plants, from 

 k" -I" long (a new African and Cuban species much larger), floating as little grains 

 on the water. (Named for John Fred. Wolff, who wrote on Lemna in 1801.) 



1. W. Columbiana, Karstcn. Globose or globular, J" -5" long, very 

 loosely cellular, light green all over, not dotted ; stomata 1 -6 ; the opening at 

 the base circular and with a thin border. — Floating rather beneath the surface 

 of stagnant waters, near Butcher's Bridge, Salisbury, Connecticut (Rohbins, 1829), 

 Orange Co., N. Y. (Austin), Lake Ontario (Pa'nie), Detroit (./. M. Diycluw), Illi- 

 nois (/s. Hall, Engehiiann, fertile), and Louisiana (Riddcll). 



2. W. Brasiliensis, Weddell. 01>long, smaller and more densely cellular, 

 flattisii and deep gicen witli many stomata above, tumid and jjalc below, brown- 

 dotted all over, anterior edge sharp, opening at base circular. — Growing with 

 the last from Lake Ontario to Illinois, floating on the surface. (Char, of both 

 by G. Engil matin.) 



OuDKii 109. TYPII.iCE^. (Cat-tail Family.) 



Mar.'ih or (uiuatic herbs, toith nerved and linear .se.s.si7e leaves, and monoe- 

 cious Jloicers on a spadix or in heads, destitute of proper Jloral envelopes. 

 Ovary tapering into a style and (usually elongated) 1 -sided stigma. 

 Fruit nut-like when ripe, 1-seeded, rarely 2-seeded. Seed suspended, 

 anatropous : embryo straiglit in copious albumen. Root perennial. 



1. TYPHA, Tonrn. C.vt-tail Fl.\g. 



Flowers in a long and very dense cylindrical spike terminating the stem ; the 

 upper part consisting of stamens only, intermixed with long hairs, and inserted 

 directly on the axis ; the lower or fertile part consisting of ovaries, surrotinded 

 by club-shaped bristles, which form the copious down of the fruit. Nutlets 

 minute, very long-stalked. — Spathes merely deciduous bracts, or none. Iloot- 

 stoek.5 creeping. Leaves long, sheathing the base of the simple jointless stems, 

 erect, thicki.sh. Flowering in summer. (Name from rlcfios, a fen.) 



1. T. Iatif61ia, L. (Common Cat-tail or Reed-macf..) Leaves flat: 

 staininate and pistillate parts of the spike a])proximato. Common. (Eu.) 



2. T. angUStif6Iia, L. (Narrow-leaved or Saiai.l C.) Leares chan- 

 nrlled towards the Ixise, narroirlij linear : staminate and ]iistillatc parts of the sjjike 

 usually separated by an interval. A rarer and smaller jjlant. (Eu.) 



