ANGIOSPERMS (OVARY PLANTS) 



MONOCOTYLEDONS 



TYPHACEAE (Cat-tail Family) 



Perennial ; roots fibrous ; stems simple, terete. Leaves alternate, 

 linear or strap-shaped, sheathing at base, flat, more or less convex 

 on the back, parallel- veined. Flowers in terminal spikes {cat-tails), 

 the staminate above the pistillate. Staminate flowers among hairs ; 

 stamens 1-7. Perianth of several delicate silky hairs. Ovary 

 stalked ; style long. Seed i. — Marsh plants. (Gk. typha = the cat- 

 tail.) Only the following genus. (F. & R. p. 30.) typha (cat-tail) 



SPARGANIACEAE (Bur-reed Family) 



Roots fibrous; stems erect or immersed and floating. Leaves 

 linear, alternate, equitant below or flat, sheathing at base. Flowers 

 sessile or peduncled, in heads, staminate heads above the pistillate. 

 Perianth of j-6 chaffy scales. Stamens mostly $■ Pistils i, or 2 

 with united styles and ovaries. Seed i. — Marsh plants. (Gk. 

 sparganon = a band ; referring to the ribbon-Uke leaves.) Only the 

 following genus. (F. & R. p. 30.) sparganium (bcr-reed) 



NAIADACEAE (Pondweed Family) 



Aquatic or marsh herbs, mostly immersed, with rootstocks. Leaves 

 alternate or opposite, sometimes aU basal; blade rarely toothed or 

 none; reduced leaves various in shape. Flowers perfect or uni- 

 sexual, variously arranged. Perianth none, or of 4-6 distinct seg- 

 ments, or membranous and tubular or cup-shaped. Stamens 1-2 

 or 4-6. Ovary superior ; carpels 1-6. — Family too difficult for 

 beginners, hence key only to genera. (F. & R. pp. 31-34.) 



a. Growing in fresh water, or in salt marshes, but not in open tidewater. 

 B. Leaves flat, or in a few species terete but then never more than 1.5 mm. in 

 diameter; stem elongated. 

 C. Leaves alternate, often wide, more than 25 mm. long when linear; pistil i. 

 D. Leaves all linear, all alternate; stamens 2; fruit stalked. — (Honor of 

 H. B. Ruppius, a German botanist.) Ruppia (ditch grass) 



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