Go 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



through wood and meadow, plucking with all eager 

 expectancy the spadix of this plant. Thus, as far as 

 outward form is concerned, it has been known to most 

 from very early years. 



My object in this paper is not however to examine 

 into the lore of the plant, or to discuss its various 

 common names, but to look somewhat closely into its 



belongs, does not furnish many plants to the flora of 

 this island. Examining, first, the underground portion 

 of the plant, we find a corm producing leaf-buds at 



Fig. 50.— Corms of Arum maculatum. a, this year's corm ; 

 b, old corm ; c, young corm ; d, roots ; e, petiole. 



g * 



% 



^ 







* V „ 



o 0$ 00 



Fig. 51. — Starch grains from corm of Arum maculatum. 



Fig. 49. — Young plant of Arum maculatum. 

 b, living corm ; c, old corm. 



a, roots ; 



Fig. S 2. — Transverse section through corm cells and thick 

 starch masses. 



construction and economy, considered botanically and 

 microscopically. I venture to think that by the time 

 we have finished our investigation, it will be found 

 that Arum maculatum possesses points of interest 

 well worthy the attention of all careful observers. 

 The natural order Aroideoe, to which the Arum 



one point and roots at another. (Fig. 49.) It fre- 

 quently happens that a specimen is met with in which 

 three distinct periods of life and growth may be 

 observed. Such is the case in Fig. 50. The corm 

 of the arum is of great interest when examined with 

 care. If a corm be cut across, a white deposit will 



