418 CLASS II. MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



CLASS II. MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



Stem not distinguishable into pith, wood, and bark, but con- 

 sisting of bundles of fibres, irregularly imbedded in cellular 

 tissue, and in woody species a firmly adherent rind outside. 

 Seeds with one cotyledon, the embryo undivided, the young 

 stem being developed from a sheath-like cavity on one side. 



Besides the above positive characters, Monocotyledons may be 

 generally known by their simple, entire, alternate or radical leaves, 

 with simple parallel veins, the base usually encircling or sheathing the 

 stem or the base of the next leaf ; and the parts of the flower are most 

 frequently in threes, the calyx and corolla, when present, being generally 

 similar in appearance, forming a single perianth of 6 parts. In several 

 families, however, the perianth is entirely wanting, or reduced to a very 

 few small scales ; in Aroidece, in Tamus, and Paris, the leaves are some- 

 what netted-veined ; and in some Naiadece, and in Paris, and some 

 Convattarias, they are opposite or whorled. 



LXXV. TYPHACE^. THE REEDMACE FAMILY. 



Reed-like marsh or aquatic herbs, with long, linear leaves. 

 Flowers monoecious, in dense spikes or globular clusters, with- 

 out any perianth. Ovary tapering into a slender simple style. 

 Fruit a small, seed-like nut, with a single pendulous seed. 

 Embryo straight, in a copious albumen. 



A family limited to the two British genera. 



Flowers in long, dense, cylindrical spikes. .... 1. TYPHA. 

 Flowers in distinct globular heads 2. SPARGANITTM. 



I. TYPHA. REEDMACE. 



Flowers in a long, very dense, cylindrical and simple spike, terminat- 

 ing the stem, the upper part consisting of stamens only, intermixed 

 with hairs, the lower part more dense, with minute ovaries, surrounded 

 by numerous hairs. Nuts very small, enveloped in a copious down. 



A small genus, spread over the greater part of the globe. 



Male flowers close above the females, in an uninterrupted spike 1. T. latifolia. 

 Male and female parts of the spike separated by a short interval 



without flowers 2. T. angustifolia. 



1. T. latifolia, Linn. (fig. 939). Great R., Oafs-tail. Rootstock 

 shortly creeping, with erect, reed-like stems, 3 to 6 feet high. Leaves 

 very long, erect and linear, sheathing at the base, but flat in the greater 

 part of their length. Flowers in a continuous spike, often more than a 

 foot long, the upper male portion rather thicker when in flower, 

 yellow with the very numerous, closely packed, linear anthers ; the 

 minute ovaries of the lower part as closely packed, and enveloped in 



