TYPHACEAE, Cat-tail Family
Tall marsh or aquatic herbs with rhizomes; leaves linear. 2-ranked, basal aDd cauline, bases sheathing; flowers monosporangiatc. in cylindric spikes, upper part of spikes staminate, lower part carpellate; staminate flowers of usually 3 united stamens, bractlets hairlike; carpellate flowers of 1 carpel, style elongate, stigma one-~sided, stipe of ovary long- ‘villous; ovule 1; sterile flowers among the fertile carpellate ones.
Typhaceae