Typhaceae
A small natural order of aquatic or marsh-loving herbs, with perennial rhizomes, inhabiting Europe, temperate and tropical Asia, Australia, and temperate North America. Flowers small, inserted on a monoecious spadix, or by abortion dioecious, in heads or dense spikes; perianth none; stamens of the males numerous, accompanied by bristles or membranous scales; anthers two-celled; ovaries of the females accompanied by bristles or scales, sessile, or on long stalks when ripe. Fruits membranous or sub-drupaceous, one or rarely two-celled, sessile or stipitate. Leaves alternate, linear, entire, erect and emerging or floating, sheathing at base; cauline ones subtending the spadices, or forming an involucre before flowering. Stems cylindric, not knotty, solid, simple or branched. The pollen of Typha is made into bread by the natives of Scind and New Zealand. Only a couple of genera---Sparganium and Typha---and sixteen species are included in this order.