cidum, Mx., neither is yet of any consequence ; grow in ponds ;
flowers distinct. No known use.
ORDER 255. TYPHACEiE. T he Bulrush T ribe.
Flowers along a naked stem or spadix, the 3 - 6 stamens in
one flower, and the pistils in another, surrounded by a 3-parted
perianth; ovary superior, 1-celled, with a short style, and dry
fruit ; stems without knots or joints ; leaves long, stiff, sword-
form, with parallel veins ; marshes and ditches, chiefly in Northe
rn countries ; not of great use.
In this country, this is a small tribe of two genera, which have,
to .the eye of most persons, few common characters to unite
them.
T ypha. L. 19.. 3.
From the Greek, for marsh, its natural habitation ; flowers in
a long, dense, cylindrical spike. Two species in this State, indigenous
also to a great part of the world.
T. latifolia. L. Cat Tail. Reed Mace. A splendid reed,
tall, erect, with very long, flat, erect leaves, and a terminal spike of
insignificant flowers in great abundance. The sterile flowers
form a dense cylinder 4 — 6 — 8 inches long, at the end of the
stem, while the fertile flowers form an equally dense cylinder
immediately below. The pollen, which falls in great plenty from
the upper to the lower cylinder, to fructify the fertile flowers, is
very combustible, and flashes on the application of a candle.
The leaves, which are finely shaped, colored, and beautiful,
are extensively used in the manufacture of flag-bottomed chairs ;
algo by coopers to make close the joints of casks ; for making
mats, baskets, and for thatching; and the hairy covering of the
fruit is sometimes used for beds, or rather, mattresses, a poor substitute
for hair, moss, husks, &c.
T. angustifolia. L. A narrow-leafed plant, leaves channeled,
fertile spike a little removed from the other. Found in similar
situations in the vicinity of Boston, but not known in the western
part of the State.
Except the Cat Tail, this genus has little value. The first
species is spread extensively over Europe and Asia ; the second
is found in England, and also in New Holland.
S parganium. L. 19. 3.
From the Greek, for band, on account of its ribbon-shaped
leaves ; only a few species. Flowers in a globose head ; sepals
3 — 6.
<S. ramosum. Sm. Burr Reed. Stem a foot or more high,
round, rarely straight, with barren flowers towards the top, and
the fertile below, and both at little distances along the stem ;
leaves nearly radical, triangular towards the base, and sword-form
upwards ; fruit in a dense, large, globose, burr-like head,- which
separates it from the other reeds ; July.
S. angustifolium. Mx. Narrow and long leafed, lightly floating
on the surface of water ; vicinity of Boston.
/S. Jlmericanum. Nutt. Lake Burr Reed. Grows near
New Bedford, in ponds ; stem nearly simple, much like the first
species.'
None of these species have been employed for any valuable
purpose.
ORDER 256. AROIDEiE. A rum, or W ild T urnip,
T r ib e .
Stamens and pistils in separate flowers on a spadix ; perianth
often wanting, or of 4 or 6 divisions ; ovary, superior, 1-celled ;
fruit succulent or dry ; leaves sheathing at the base ; spadix commonly
in a spathe.
These plants abound in tropical regions ; in temperate regions
relatively rare.
A very acrid substance is contained in most of the species, and
sometimes they are very poisonous. This property is destroyed
by roasting the roots, and they are then healthful, pleasant, and
nutrititious ; at least some of them. One species yields one