260 MONOCOTYLODENOUS. 



Genus I SPARGANIUM. 



Flower monoecious ; sterile florets amcnt nearly spherical > 

 dense ; perianth S-leaved ; fertile florets aaient nearly sphe- 

 rical ; perianth 3-leaved. Stigma 2-cleft, or simple. Fruit 

 a dry, 1-seeded drupe. 



1 S Americanum. ^lem flexuous, terete, glabrous, sparingly branched. 

 Leaves ligulate, glabrous, thick, tlie lower ones caronate, about as long as 

 the stem ; the upper concavp. at the base, erect. Flowers'xn sessile, globular 

 heads ; fertile heads 2-5, usually sessile ; sterile ones, 6-9. Stigma simple, 

 oblique. 



% May — June. In stagnant waters. 12-15 in. 



Genus II TYPHA. 



Flowers monoecious, collected into along, cylindrical spike ; 

 sterile florets perianth wanting. Stamens united into a com- 

 mon filament ; fertile florets perianth none. Pericarp pedi- 

 cillate, surrounded at the base with hairs resembling a pappus. 



1 T Latifolia. Slem terete, glabrous. Leaves linear, nearly as tall as 

 the stem, sheathing at the base. Flowers in a cylindrical spike, the upper 

 ones sterile, the lower ones fertile. 



% July — Aug. In stagnant waters. 5-6 ft. 



Ohder CXVIII. AROIDE.E. 



Flowers moncecious, or perfect, arranged upon a spadix, 

 sometimes na'-ed. l^erianth either wanting or 4-6-parted. 

 Stamens definite, or indefinite, hypogynous, short. Ovary su- 

 perior, l-cel!cd, or rarely 3 celled. Stigina sessWe, Fruitin- 

 dehiscent, solitary, or several. Fler'oaceous plants, generally 

 with tuberous roots. Le^ue^ sheathing, with parallel veins. 



Genus I ACORUS. 



Spadix cylindrical, covered with flowers. Perianth glu- 

 maceous, 6-leaved, naked. Stamens 6. Stigma sesiile. Cap- 

 sule 'S-ceWedf 3-angled, many seeded. 



1 A Calamus. Leaves ensiform, ancipitous, glabrous, entire. Scape 3- 

 angled, concave on one side, with the summit resembling the leaves. Flow- 

 ers on a cylindrical spadix, protruding from the side of the ensiform scape. 

 Stigma obtuse. Siveetflagi 



Pale yellow. % April. Wet places. 2-3 ft. 



Rsmarks. The dried rootof ihis plant is known insliops under the name of Cala- 

 mus. It is a stimulant, tonic and aromatic It is prescribed in the regular practice a s 

 aid to cathartic medicines, and in cases of debility of the alimentary caaal. U was 

 aaciently much more highly esteemed than at the present day. i^^ 



Genus II ORONTIUM. 



Spadix cyMndiViCf crowded with flowers. Perianth 6-leaved, 

 naked. Stigma sessile, very small. Fruit l-seed. ^^ 



