ARACEAE (ARUM FAMILY) 



33 



ARISAEMA 



Spadix globose, enveloped by a fleshy ovoid spathe. Flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious and without perianth, covering only the 

 base of the spadix. 



A. triphyllum, INDIAN TURNIP, JACK-IN- 

 THE-PuLPix. Sterile flowers above the fer- 

 tile on the club-shaped spadix. Fruit a 

 i-few-seeded scarlet berry. A perennial 

 herb with a corm. Common in rich woods. 

 Most conspicuous in May. The corm is 

 turnip-shaped, and has intensely acrid juice. 

 The spathe is often dark purple or varie- 

 gated with dark purple and whitish stripes 

 or spots. Leaves usually two, each with 

 three leaflets. 



SYMPLOCARPUS 



(Symplokd, connection; Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in- 

 * * the-pulpit. 



Spadix globose, enveloped by a fleshy, 

 ovoid spathe. Flowers perfect and peri- 

 anth present. 



karpos, fruit. The ovaries are coalescent 

 into a compound fruit.) 



S. foetidus, SKUNK CABBAGE. Stamens 4, opposite the sepals. Fruit 



a globular mass, composed of the 

 enlarged and spongy spadix, en- 

 closing the spherical seeds just 

 beneath the surface. A perennial 

 herb with a strong odor like that 

 of the skunk. A cluster of large, 

 broad leaves preceded in earliest 

 spring by the nearly sessile 

 spathes which barely emerge 

 from the ground. The spathe is 

 spotted and striped with purple 

 and yellowish green. Swampy 

 places. 



Symplocarpus foetidus, Skunk Cabbage. 

 Leaf and section of inflorescence. 



SPRING FLORA 3 



ACORUS 



Spadix cylindrical. Spathe 

 not obvious. Flowers perfect. 



