470 P. W. CLAASSEN 
that germinated in each of the watch glasses. The results are shown 
in table 4. These figures would indicate that not more than two-thirds 
of the fertile seeds germinate under experimental conditions. Calculating, 
then, from the percentage of fertility and the percentage of germination, 
as given in tables 3 and 4, a head containing 250,000 seeds might actually 
give rise to 125,000 new plants — a 50-per-cent efficiency in reproduction. 
TABLE 4. DETERMINATION OF THE PERCENTAGE OF GERMINATION OF FERTILE SEEDS 
. 
Number Nabe Percent- 
Head Number | of seeds ree es age of 
of seeds germi- g ere germi- 
nated 8 nation 
I atest SMa Pe PCa ed eh le A HEN cine Ce aD 20 12 8 60.0 
DEE i TSOP CCR AE at gh ete te elec way) aoe 50 34 16 68.0 
Bia AR Ie ane SG Aa eS fiat tem ey Bee ener 18 12 6 66.6 
oI aoe Bete Rage ek CASS ar AR res ey Soe a rep 73 37 36 50.6 
MR Ota lisesi anaes ee eet ee eure ae em 161 95 6655 S| Ree: : 
Average per cent:germinated.. 5.:..5---.-2--|a0- 6-2 a |e oe ee ee | eee 60.5 
TYPHA AS A COMMERCIAL ASSET 
The vast areas 6f cat-tail have as yet been little utilized. The plant 
is rich in starch and other food values and grows in situations now regarded 
as waste lands. It would yield great quantities of supplies, if only a 
definite use for it could be found. The Indians and a few other races 
have used cat-tail products for various purposes. Hooker (1876) says: 
The starchy rhizome of Typha possesses slightly astringent and diuretic properties, which 
led to its use in East Asia for the cure of dysentary, urethritis, and aphthae. The stems 
and leaves are used for thatching cottages. It has been vainly tried to utilize the bristles 
of the spike in the manufacture of a sort of velvet. [The pollen of Typha is made into bread 
by the natives of Scind and New Zealand.] 
Engler and Prantl (1889) say: ‘“‘ The rhizome, rich in starch, may 
serve as food material; the leaves of several species are used for weaving. 
The pollen, which is easily recognized by the occasional tetrads, serves at 
times as surrogate for lycopodium powder.’” 
2 Translation from the original German, 
