SKUNK CABBAGE. 43 
of synonyms, with which our science is already 
too much burdened, yet in the present instance 
an appropriate name, which should not be at va- 
riance with the character of the plant, appeared to 
be required. With the advice of the venerable Dr. 
Cutler, I have translated, as nearly as possible, 
the common English appellation for the plant. 
The name Ictodes from jzrig, viverra, and oa, 
oleo ; is sufficiently expressive of the property 
from which its common name is derived. — 
The genus Tetodes: has for its character a 
hooded spathe, spadix covered with perfect flow- 
ers, calyx with four segments, petais none, style 
pyramidal, seeds immersed in the spadix. Only 
the present plant can be assigned ‘to this genus. 
It belongs to Tetrandria, monogynia; andis found 
among the Piperite of Linnzus and Aroidee of °2“«« 
Jussieu. The root is large and. abrupt, with nu- 
merous, crowded, fleshy fibres. The spathe which 
emerges from the ground some time before the 
leaves, is ovate, swelling, various in width, cucul- 
late, spotted and sometimes nearly covered with 
dull brownish purple, the top acuminate and in- 
curved, the edges infolded, auriculate at base, and 
at length coalescing. Within this is the oval 
spadix, ona short peduncle, covered with perfect 
tetrandrous flowers, and of the same colour with 
