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CAT-TAIL FAMILY (TYPHACEAE).

Cat-tail (Typha latifolia): Everyone is familiar with this plant which is widely distributed throughout North America. It is found in marshy situations or along the borders of ponds in the park such as in the boggy meadow near Longmire where it is quite common. It grows to a height of 3-5 feet and both staminate and pistillate flowers are borne together in a dense, brown cylindrical spike.

BURR-REED FAMILY (SPARGANIACEAE).

Burr-reed (Sparganium sp.). Three species of burr-reeds are native to Mt. Rainier National Park. All are water plants, growing along the edges of lakes or ponds. The leaves are linear and grass-like and their greenish flowers are clustered in compact spherical burr-like heads which are scattered along the upper portion of the stem in or above the leaf axils. Sparganium simplex has rather stout stems that stand erect above the surface of the water. Sparganium minimum has slender stems with thin floating leaves. The flower heads of this species are sessile (not stalked and resting directly upon the stem) or nearly so and slightly less than 1/4 inch in diameter. This species is quite common along the margin of Reflection Lake. Sparganium angustifolium has fruiting heads about twice as large as those of S. minimum and they are sometimes attached to the stem by a short stalk. While the leaves of this species are floating they are rather firm.

PONDWEED FAMILY (NAIADACEAE).

Pondweed (Potamogeton natans). A water plant characterized by two kinds of leaves - floating and submerged. The former are ovate or elliptical in outline, somewhat cordate (heart-shaped) at the base, and 2-3 inches long. The submerged leaves are long and grass-like.

GRASS FAMILY (GRAMINEAE).

Individual species of this family are not described in this issue of Nature Notes. See page 13.

SEDGE FAMILY (CYPERACEAE).

Individual species of this family are not described in this issue of Nature Notes. See page 13.

ARUM FAMILY (ARACEAE).

Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcense). One of the most common plants at the lower elevations of the park, found in wet to boggy soils up to about the 3000 foot elevation. The leaves are oblong in outline, very large (12"-36" long and 8"-20" wide). It is one of the first plants to bloom in the early spring, vying with the coltsfoot in this respect. At this time its bright yellow corolla-like spathe, which partially encloses the club-like spike of small flowers of the same color, is very conspicuous. Its rootstalk is thick and horizontal in the marshy soil. The common name is derived from the pungent, skunk-like odor which this plant possesses.

RUSH FAMILY (JUNCACEAE).

Individual species not described in this issue of Nature Notes. See page 13.

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Descriptions continued...