TYPHACEAE
NB This family now includes also Sparganiaceae. The Plant Portrait for Sparganiaceae see under that former family. This Plant Portrait is Typhaceae s.s.
Morphological description
Herbs with a creeping rhizome.
Leaves
Leaves long-linear, with parallel veins.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence a terete spike with closely packed female flowers in the lower part and male flowers in the upper part.
Flowers
Flowers.
Fruit
Fruit.
Seed
Seed.
Different from: Graminae; inflorescence never a spike with unisexual flowers.
Distribution: The only genus of the family, Typha, is widespread, only one species in Malesia, gregarious in wet places.
Notes: The rhizomes contain edible starch, the spikes are used for decoration.
Literature: C.A. Backer, Fl. Males. I, 4 (1951) 242-244.
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): Typha 76.
Illustrations: Fig. 176. Typha angustifolia L. (Typhaceae). Reproduced from Flora Malesiana I, 4 (1951) 242, fig. 1.
Image in PhytoImages for Typhaceae