523 CXXXVI. TYPHACE^E. TYPHA. 



lateral stamens, the latter of a simple, carinate ovary, with a style 

 and stigma. CD Herbs, consisting of a frond (stem and leaf confounded) 

 sending down from the under surface, roots which hang loosely in the 

 water, and producing from the margins the spathaceous flowers. 



1. L. TRISULCA. Ivy-leaved Duck-meat. 



Fronds elliptic-lanceolate, thin, serrate at one extremity and caudate at 

 the other ; roots solitary. Floating in ponds and pools of clear water. Fronds 

 nearly ' in length, diaphanous, with a tail-like appendage at base, obtuse at 

 apex, the new ones issuing in a cruciate manner from lateral fissures in the 

 margin of the old. Root a solitary fibre, ending in a sheath. Flowers very 

 minute. Utricle sitting on the upper surface of the frond. June Sept. 



2. L. MINOR. Lesser Duck-meat. 



Fronds nearly ovate, compressed ; root solitary. This little floating plant 

 occurs in dense patches on the surface of stagnant waters. The leaves, pro- 

 perly fronds, adhere 2 3 together, 1' in length, rather thick, and convex below. 

 Root undivided, sheathed at the end. Flowers minute from a cleft in the mar- 

 gin of the fronds, near the base. Jn. Sept. 



3. L. GiBBA. Gibbous Duck-meat. 



Fronds obovate, hemispherical beneath, nearly plain above ; root solitary. 

 Floating on the surface of stagnant waters, N. York. Fronds about a line 

 in length, pellucid and reticulated beneath. June Sept. 



4. L. POLYRHlzA. (Spirodela. Schleiden.} 



Fronds broad-ovate, a little convex beneath ; roots numerous. Floating 

 in stagnant waters. Fronds resembling flax-seed, but larger (2 4" long), 

 scattered on the surface of the water, of a firm, but succulent texture, becoming 

 purplish. Roots in thick bundles of 8 10 black fibres from the under surface 

 of the fronds. All these species are eaten by ducks and other aquatic birds. 

 June Sept. 



ORDER CXXXVI. TYPHACEJE. TYPHADS. 



Herbs, growing in marshes or ditches. Stems without joints. 

 Lvs. ngid, ensiform, with parallel veins. 

 Fls. monoecious, arranged upon a spadix with no spathe. 

 Cat. Sepals 3 or 0. Corolla 0. 



Sta. 36. Filaments long and slender. Anthers cuneiform, erect. 

 Ova. l, free, l-celled, with a solitary, pendulous ovule. Styles short. Stig. 12. 

 Fr. Utricle with an albuminous seed. 



Genera 2, species 13, in ditches and marshes throughout the world. 



Genera. 



$ long and cylindrical Typha. l 



Spadix of flowers I globose Sparganiwm. 2 



1. TYPHA. 



Gr. rv<j)os, a marsh; where all the species grow. 



Spadix of flowers long, cylindric, dense, c? Stamens about 3 toge- 

 ther, united into a common filament. 9 flowers below the sterile ; 

 ovary pedicellate, surrounded at base by a hair-like pappus. Root 



'2J-. Spadix terminal. Fls. very numerous. 



1. T. LATIFOLIA (and angustifolia. Linn.) Cat-tail. Reed Mace. 



Lvs. ensiform, concave within near the base; sterile and fertile spikes close 

 together, or a little remote. A common, smooth, tall inhabitant of the water 

 in muddy pools and ditches, U. S., Can. The stem arises from 3 to 5f, round 

 and smooth, leafy below, terminated by the large cylindric spikes. Spikes of a 

 brown color, 6 10' in length, composed of slender, downy flowers so compact, 

 particularly the fertile ones, as to be of considerable hardness. The upper 

 portion is smaller, composed of the sterile flowers. Leaves somewhat sword- 

 shaped, erect, 2 4f long and nearly 1' wide. They are called flags, and made 

 useful for weaving the seats of chairs, &c. July. 

 ft. angustifolia. Sterile and fertile spikes a little remote (i 2'). Found in 



