Monocotyledones. 15 



Class II. — ANGIOSPERM^. 



Ovules inclosed in an ovary which is composed of one or more 

 spore-bearing leaves known as carpels (see Botany, page 201), the 

 ripened ovary and contents constituting the fruit. 



Subclass I. MONOCOTYLEDONES. 



Embryo in the seed with but one cotyledon, the first leaves being 

 alternate ; stem showing no distinction into wood, pith, and baric, the 

 vascular bundles being promiscuously distributed throughout the stem. 

 Leaves mostly parallel-veined ; parts of the flower usually in one or more 

 whorls of threes or sixes. 



TYPHACE.aE. Cat-tail Family. 



Marsh or water plants, with creeping rootstocks and flat, linear 

 leaves, sheathing at the base. Flowers monoecious, in dense, terminal 

 spikes. Parts of the perianth reduced to bristles. Ovary 1 to 2-celled 

 with as many styles. Fruit nutlike. 



TYPHA. Cat-tail Flag. 



(The old Greek name Typhe,') 



Plants erect, growing 6 feet or more in height. Leaves erect and 

 flat, sheathing a jointless stem. Rootstock creeping. Flowers in ter- 

 minal, dense, cylindrical spikes, which are staminate above and pistillate 

 below. Pistils stipulate, i-celled. Nutlets minute and long-stalked. 



i. Typha latifolia, L. (L., /afej, broad ;/oA'kw?, leaf.) Broad-leaved Cat- 

 tail. Stems from 4 to 8 feet tall; leaves J to i inch broad. Terminal spikes 

 pistillate below and staminate above; staminate and pistillate portions in close 

 proximity, and each about 3 to 6 inches long ; pistillate portion i inch in diameter. 

 In marshes and wet places. 



GRAMiNE.ffi;. Grass Family. 



Nearly all annual or perennial herbaceous grasses ; usually hollow 

 internodes and solid nodes. Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, sheathing the 

 stem at the base, the sheath split open longitudinally on the side oppo- 

 site the leaf blade. Flowers in spikelets which are panicled or spiked. 

 Spikelets composed of one or more flowers w^hich may be perfect, 



