DRAGON ROOT. 53 
are found under the Piperite of Linnzeus and the 
Aroidew of Jussieu. Lymcoer Vey 
The genus Arum may be characterized as fol- 
lows. Spathe one leaved, convolute at base ; spa- 
dia naked above, bearing the organs of fructification 
at base ; berries one celled. 
The species triphyllum is polygamous ; has its 
leaves ternate and entire; its scape bearing an 
ovate, acuminate, infleaed spathe ; its spadia: club- 
shaped, shorter than the spathe. : 
The root is round and flattened, its upper 
part tunicated like the onion, its lower and 
larger portion tuberous and fleshy, giving off nu- 
merous long white radicles in a circle from its 
upper edge. It is covered on the under side with 
a dark, loose, wrinkled skin. Leayes usually one 
or two on long sheathing footstalks, composed of 
three oval, mostly entire, acuminate leafets, which. 
are smooth, paler on the under side, and becom- 
ing glaucous as the plant grows older, the two late- 
ral ones somewhat rhomboidal, Scape erect, round, 
green or variegated with purple, invested at base 
by the petioles, and by their acute sheaths. This 
supports a large, ovate, acuminate spathe, conyo- 
luted into a tube at bottom, but flattened and bent 
over at the top, like a hood. Its internal colour 
is exceedingly yarious, even in plants growing to- 
