BUR REED FAMILY 
( Sparganiacece ) 
The Bur Keeds are marsh inhabiting plants, some 
growing along the muddy shores of ponds or streams, 
while other species are strictly aquatic, growing in the 
water with floating leaves. Like the Cat-tails they are 
not in the least dependent upon insects for fertilization. 
The two kinds of flowers, staminate and pistillate are 
always in separate spherical clusters, usually alternately 
arranged along the stem. 
(A) Great Bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) is 
stout and erect, two to three feet in height. The ma¬ 
ture heads, or fruit, are about one inch across; com¬ 
posed of wedge-shaped nutlets arranged in the form of 
a sphere. The basal leaves are similar to those of the 
Cat-tail and clasp the stems. These plants are found 
in the whole of the U. S. and southern Canada, flower¬ 
ing from June to August. 
(B) Branching Bur Beed (8. androcladum) throws 
off several weak flower-bearing branches from the angles 
of the upper leaves. 
18 
