1. T. angustifolia, Linn. Sp. Plant. 971.—Very variable in stature, 3–8 ft. high or more. Leaves as long as the flowering-stems or sometimes exceeding them, rather narrow, ⅕–½ in. broad, rarely more, expanded at the base into a broad sheath often more than a foot in length, plano-convex or convex on both sides. Spike variable in length; male portion usually from 2 to 6 in. long, in some varieties contiguous to the female part, in others separated from it by an interval sometimes as much as 1 in. long, axis of the spike furnished with reddish-brown hairs mixed with the flowers; female portion 3–8 in. long, ⅓–¾ in. broad. Female flowers furnished at the base with a linear spathulate bracteole, the hairs on the pedicel of the ovary shorter than the stigma.—A. Rich. Fl. Nouv. Zel. 99; A. Cunn. Precur. n. 319; Raoul, Choix, 41; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 238; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 276. T. latifolia, Forst. f. Prodr. n. 336 (not of Linn.); Hook. f. Handb. N.Z. Fl. 772.
Kermadec Islands, North and South Islands: Abundant in marshy places throughout. Sea-level to 2000 ft. Bulrush; Raupo. December–March.
Almost cosmopolitan. The Australian and New Zealand forms are placed by Graebner (Das Pflanzenreich, Heft 2) under var. Brownii (T. Brownii, Kunth) and var. Muelleri (T. Muelleri, Rohrb.). The first of these includes the larger and coarser states, with much of the habit of T. latifolia, and, like it, with the male and female spikes contiguous. It differs, however, from T. latifolia in the female flowers being bracteolate at the base. Var. Muelleri is smaller, and usually has the male and female spikes separated by a distinct interval.
The pollen was formerly collected by the Maoris, made into cakes with water, and then baked and eaten; the starchy rhizome was also used for food in times of scarcity. The leaves were employed for constructing the walls of their houses, or whares, and are still used for the same purpose.
2. SPARGANIUM, Linn.
Marsh or aquatic herbs. Rhizome creeping. Stems erect or floating, simple or the inflorescence alone branched. Leaves crowded at the base of the stem, distichous, linear-elongate, erect or floating, sheathing at the base. Flowers monœcious, crowded in superposed usually remotely placed globose heads subtended by leafy bracts; the upper heads male, the lower female. Perianth of 3–8 spathulate membranous scales. Male flowers: Stamens 2–3, rarely more; filaments long or short, distinct or variously connate; anthers linear-oblong, 4-celled, longitudinally dehiscent. Female flowers: Ovary sessile or nearly so, 1–2-celled, produced into 1–2 long or short styles; stigma unilateral; ovule solitary, pendulous. Fruit obovoid, spongy, tipped by the persistent style; endocarp bony. Seed with a membranous testa; albumen farinaceous; embryo axile.
