a4 ARUM TRIPHYLLUM. 
gether. In some it is wholly green, in others 
dark purple or black. In most it is variegated, 
as in our figure, with pale greenish stripes on a 
dark ground. The spadix is much shorter than 
the spathe, club shaped, rounded at the end, 
green, purple, black, or variegated, suddenly con- 
tracted into a narrow neck at base, and surround. 
ed below by the stamens or germs. In the bar- 
ren plants, its base is covered with conical, fleshy 
filaments, bearing from two to four circular an- 
thers each. In the fertile plants, it is invested 
with roundish crowded germs, each tipt with a 
stigma. Plants which are perfectly moneecious, 
and which are the least common, haye stamens 
below the germs. ‘There are also frequently 
found irregular, reniform substances, much larger 
than the anthers, of which they seem to be a dis- 
ease. The upper part of the spadix withers with 
the spathe, while the germs grow into a large 
compact bunch of shining scarlet berries, 
Kvery part of the Arum, and especially the 
root, is violently acrid, and almost caustic, Ap- 
plied to the tongue or to any secreting surface, it 
produces an effect like that of Cayenne pepper, 
but far more powerful, so much 80, as to leave a 
permanent soreness of many hours? continuance, 
Of this any one may become satisfied by a simple 
