Sjmrganium.] CXLIV. TYPHACE^. 1693 



style projecting beyond the scales. Fruits obovoid oi' fusiform, contracted at the 

 base and usually falling off with the surrounding scales. Pericarp drupaceous, 

 with a thin epioarp and hard indehiscent endocarp. 



The genus, like Typha, consists of a small number of species widely spread over the northern 

 hemisphere, but the Australian species -which is also in New Zealand, though nearly allied to 

 one of the northern ones, appears to be distinguishable by characters that may be regarded as 

 specific. — Benth. 



1. S. angustifolium (leaves narrow), B. Br. Prod. 338, not of Michx. ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. vii. 160. Stems from a shortly creeping rhizome erect, not 

 very stout, 1 to 2ft. high or rarely more. Lower and radical leaves very long, 

 mostly 1 to 2 lines broad, the midrib acutely prominent underneath, the lower 

 portion expanding into long many-nerved rather narrow sheaths. Inflorescence 

 simple or with one short branch in the axil of the uppermost leaf, with leafy 

 bracts under several of the lower heads. Heads few or numerous, all sessile or 

 the lowest one pedunculate. Filaments of the males about twice as long as the 

 scales. Ovaries in the females tapering into a thick style, with the stigma 

 decurrent about halfway down. Fruits sessile or nearly so, broadly obovoid, very 

 obtuse, mucronate with the persistent remains of the style. 



Hab.: Brisbane Eiver, Moreton Bay, F. v. Mveller and many other southern localities. 



Okder CXLV. AROIDE^. 



Flowers unisexual or sometimes hermaphrodite, closely packed in a dense 

 simple spike or spadix, with a convolute or rarely flat coloured or leaf-like brapt 

 or spatJia at its base. Stamens and ovaries either in different parts of the spadix 

 without perianth or bracts, or stamens 6 or fewer round each ovary, with or 

 without a small scale-like perianth segment under each stamen ; anthers usually 

 2-celled, sessile or on a thick filament, the cells opening in terminal pores or 

 outwards in longitudinal slits. Ovaries sessile, 1 to 3-celled, with 1 or more 

 ovules in each cell variously attached ; stigma sessile or on a short simple style. 

 Fruit a berry. Seeds 1 or few, surrounded by pulp, with an appressed testa ; 

 albumen usually copious with an axile embryo, or in a few genera albumen none 

 with a thick embryo and prominent plumula in a terminal groove as in Naiodem. 

 — Herbs with a perennial tuberous or creeping rhizome and radical leaves and 

 scapes, or with long creeping or climbing or rarely erect stems. Leaves entire or 

 variously divided, sometimes very large, the veins usually pinnate or reticulate, 

 or rarely grass-like leaves with parallel veins. 



The order is chiefly tropical, in both the New and the Old World, but is also represented 

 in more temperate regions, especially in the northern hemisphere. 



Series A. Flowers monceeious. Perianth none. 



Teibe I. Arineae.— S^jadfa with a flowerless top (appendaye). Stamens free ; anther-celh 

 larger than their connective. Female flou^ers without staminodia. Ovary 1-celled, ovules 

 ortlwtropoiis. 

 Terrestrial tuberous herb. Leaves various and flowers ooetaneous (on the 



plant at the same time). 

 Ovules basal 1. Typhonium. 



Tribe II. Pythonieae.— Spadix jcit/i appendage. Stamens free, anther-cells broader than 

 their connective. Ovary 1 or more celled; ovules anatropous or semianatropous. Tuberous herbs, 

 often flowering before leafing. Leaves S-sect, segments pinnatifid. 

 Appendage naked ; neuters none 2. Amoephophallus. 



TiiiEE III. Colocasieae. — Spadix with or without an appendage, ustially shorter than the 

 spatha. Anthers sessile, densely crowded, prismatic or broad, free or connate, connective very thick. 

 Leaves undivided, often peltate. 



* Tube of spatha enclosing the fruit. Spadix wholly free from the spatha. 



Limb of spatha erect; ovules many parietal 3. Colocasia. 



Limb of spatha erect ; ovules few basal 4. Alocabia. 



Pabt V. X 



