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 Orontium Japonicum. Japan Orontium. 



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Clafs and Order. 

 Hexandria Monogynia. 



Generic Char ail er. 



Spadix cylindricus, te&us flofculis. Cor. 6-partit£e nudas. 

 Stylus nullus. Folliculi i-fpermi. 



Specific Charatler and Synonyms. 



ORONTIUM Japonicum rhizomate oblongo, craffo, carnofo ; 

 fibris craflis ; foliis lanceolatis, nervofo-ftriatis, 

 bafi convolutis ; fcapo aroideo, iftis aliquoties 

 breviore ; fpica ovali-oblonga favofim conferta; 

 baccis obovato-olivaeformibus rubentibus. G. 



ORONTIUM Japonicum. Thunb. Jap. 144. Syft. Veg. 350. 

 Hort. Kew. 1. 474. Sp. PI. 2. 200. 



KIRO et RIRJO, vulgo OMOTTO. Kampf. am<en. exot. 

 785. Bank/. Ic. Kcempf. tab. 12. optima. 



This lingular plant is a native of Japan, and has been admi- 

 rably defcribed as well as figured by the indefatigable Kjempfer, 

 who fays the Japanefe plant it to cover by its luxuriant leaves 

 the waite fpots and corners of their pleafure gardens. The root 

 ls ra ther bitter, but without the acritude of that of Arum ; and 

 c onfifts of an elongated, fubcylindric, thick, flefhy root-ftock 

 w »h flefhy fibres ; leaves radical, oppofite, lanceolate, feveral, 

 convolute at their bafes ; from one to two feet long, one to 

 three inches broad, deep green fcape feveral times fhorter than 

 the fe, one to three inches high, 1'pike oval-oblong, thick fet 

 With feflile flowers, as crowded as the cells of a honey-comb, 

 Parted by membranous braftes, corollas campanulate wiih the 

 P°mts of the legments fomewhat infkaed; the berries are faid 

 y KiEMpFER to be about the fize and form of a fmall olive, 

 Containing a fcarlet pulp, with a fipgle heart fhaped feed of a 

 t ° n y Stance; have a naufeous tafte. Thunb erg's defcrip- 

 lon °f this plant is inconceivably defective and erroneous ; he 



fays 



