CAT-TAIL FAMILY. 



TYPHACEtE. 

 Bur-reed. Spa/rgmwwm simplex. 



Found along the borders of ponds, blossoming in June, July and 

 August. 



The erect, simple, stalk is round, smooth, strong, and fine in fibre ; 

 of a bright yellow-green. 



The leaf is a long, narrow, green ribbon, pointed at the tip, and 

 growing thick toward the base where it sheathes the stalk ; it has a 

 smooth surface, and exceedingly fine texture ; of a beautiful grass-green 

 color. 



The small flowers are of 2 kinds in densely crowded, round heads 

 which are threaded on a long curving flower-stem ; the lower ones are 

 the seed-bearing heads, and develop into green burs about 1 inch in 

 diameter, the upper, stamen-bearing ones, are light and flufEy with many 

 fine thread-like stamens, of a dull white color, tipped with gray. 



One involuntarily says of this plant, How Japanese ! Our Western 

 neighbors have shown in their drawings that thejj^ appreciate the long 

 sweeping curves and original gesture found in many water plants. The 

 name of the genus means a fillet, and is derived from the libbon-like 

 leaf. 



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