Characters of the family. [Greek, referring to the ribbon-like leaves.]

About 22 species, of temperate and cold regions. Besides the following, 3 others occur in western North America. Type species: Sparganium erectum L.

Achenes broadly obovoid or cuneate-obpyramidal, sessile, distinctly beaked; inflorescence com-

pound; fruiting heads i0"-i5" in diameter.

1.

S. eurycarpum.

Achenes fusiform (in S. minimum somewhat obovoid, but short-beaked and short-stipitate).

Stipe and beak of the achene each 1" long or more; fruiting heads 7 1/2" in diameter or more; anthers 3-4 times as long as broad.

Beaks straight or slightly curved; stigmas linear.

Heads all axillary; beak shorter than the body of the achene; leaves keeled.

Achenes dull; stigmas 1" long or less.

Inflorescence branched, the branches geniculate, bearing 3-7 staminate heads.

2.

S. androcladum.

Inflorescence simple, or, if branched, the branches strict and bearing 0-2 stami-

nate heads.

3-

S. atnericanutn.

Achenes glossy; stigmas 1 1/4"- 1 3/4" long-

4.

S. lucidum.

Heads, at least some of them, supra-axillary.

Leaves, at least the middle ones, strongly triangular-keeled; stem usually erect, strict.

Fruiting heads over 10" in diameter; leaves broad; bracts ascending-spreading; beak fully as long as the body of the achene.

Leaves 3 1/2"-7 1/2" wide, strongly veined; fruiting heads about 15" in diameter; achenes brown, shining, each gradually tapering into the beak.

5.

S. simplex.

Leaves 1 1/2"-4" wide, weakly veined; fruiting heads 10"-12l/2" in diameter; achenes green, dull, each abruptly contracted into the beak.

6.

S. chlorocarpum.

Fruiting heads rarely 10" in diameter; leaves narrow; bracts almost erect.

Heads distant, nearly 10" in diameter; achenes grayish-brown, distinctly

nerved.

7.

S. diversi folium.

Heads approximate, about 7 1/2" in diameter; achenes dark olive-brown, not

nerved.

8.

S. acaule.

Leaves not keeled, or only slightly so, narrow and slender; stem weak and often floating; beak decidedly shorter than the body of the achene.

Leaves usually 2 1/2-5" wide; leaves and bracts conspicuously scarious-margined; fruiting heads 8 1/2"-10" in diameter; achenes gradually beaked.

9.

S. multipedunculatum.

Leaves 1 1/2"-2" wide; leaves and bracts not conspicuously scarious-margined; fruiting heads about 7 1/2" in diameter; achenes abruptly beaked.

10.

S. angustifoliutn.

♦Text revised by Dr. John Kunkel Small.

Beaks gladiate-curved; stigma short oblong.

11.

S.

fluctuans.

Stipe and beak of the achene short or none, always less than 1/2" long; fruiting heads about 5" in diameter; stigmas oblong; anthers 1 1/2-2. times as long as broad.

Heads all sessile, or the lowest short-pedicelled, axillary; the staminate head distant from

the pistillate ones; achenes short-beaked.

13.

S.

minimum.

Lower pistillate heads distinctly pedicelled and supra-axillary; the staminate head close to

the upper pistillate one.

12.

S..

hyperboreum.