_Grouped in their Natural Order as in the Latest Edition of Gray’s
Botany_
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CAT-TAIL FAMILY
(_Typhaceæ_)
The members of this family are very abundant aquatic herbs with perennial
roots. We have two species with differences as noted below. Both have
staminate yellow flowers in a spike above pistillate brown ones; the
former soon fall or blow away, while the latter develop into the large,
familiar, brown cat-tail that is often used for decorative purposes.
(A) Common Cat-tail (_Typha latifolia_) has yellowish staminate flowers
encircling the upper end of the flower stalk, and immediately below a
long cylindrical mass of brownish pistillate ones. The pollen grains are
arranged in fours. Leaves three to eight feet long, sheathing at the
base. Found in marshes throughout the United States and southern Canada,
flowering in June and July.
(B) Narrow-leaved Cat-tail (_Typha angustifolia_) has narrower leaves,
averaging less than ¾ in. broad. The two kinds of flowers are separated
by a bare space of stalk and the pollen grains are simple.
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BUR REED FAMILY
(_Sparganiaceæ_)
The Bur Reeds are marsh-inhabitating 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 mature heads, or fruit, about one inch across;
composed 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,
flowering from June to August.
(B) Branching Bur Reed (_S. androcladum_) throws off several weak
flower-bearing branches from the angles of the upper leaves.
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WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY
(_Alismaceæ_)
Genus Arrow-head (_Sagittaria_). Arrow-heads or Sagittarias are among our
most beautiful water plants. The leaves vary greatly in shape but are
always graceful in appearance. All species have three pure white petals
with a golden centre formed by the large anthers. They usually grow in
the water but sometimes on the muddy shores, and flower in June.
(A) Broad-leaved Arrow-head (_Sagittaria latifolia_) has broad,
arrow-shaped leaves on long petioles from the root. The 3-petalled white
flowers grow in whorls of three, the upper ones being staminate and the
lower pistillate. Seed, winged on both edges and with a twisted
horizontal beak. This species is smooth, but a variety (pubescens) has
the stem quite wooly. Common in the whole of our range.
(B) Narrow-leaved Arrow-head (_S. Engelmanniana_) has very narrow leaves
with linear sagittate bases. The seeds are winged but the beak points
upward instead of being bent at an angle as in the last.
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ARUM FAMILY
(_Araceæ_)
This is quite a large family of plants containing six genera. All have
acrid or pungent juices; flowers closely crowded on a spadix, usually
surrounded by a spathe; leaves either simple or compound and of various
shapes.