4(2). Spadix naked, terminating the terete scape; leaf blades oblong 



3. Orontiuin 



4. Spadix much-overtopped by the swordlike spathe that resembles the foliage 



leaves; leaf blades linear and more or less ensiform 4. Acorus 



1. Arisaenia Mart. Indian-turnip 



Low perennial monoecious herbs; the tuberous rhizome, tuber or corm sending 

 up a simple scape sheathed with the petioles of the veiny leaves, with several 

 sheaths surrounding base of plant; spathe convolute below and mostly expanded 

 and arched over the spadix; flowers unisexual; perianth none; staminate flowers 

 above the pistillate on the spadix, composed of a cluster of almost sessile 2- to 4- 

 celled anthers that open by terminal slits and pores; pistillate flowers consisting 

 of a 1 -celled ovary that contains as many as 6 erect orthotropous ovules and a 

 broad stigma; fruit a 1- to few-seeded globose scarlet berry. 



About 150 species in America, Asia and Africa. 



The fruits and, to some extent, the leaves are eaten by several species of birds. 



1. Primary leaf pedately divided into 5 to 15 very unequal leaflets; the oblong 

 summit of the spathe with inrolled margins; spadix slender, taper- 

 ing, long-exserted; fruiting head conical 1. A. Dracontium. 



1. Primary leaf palmately divided into 3 or 5 segments; the ovate to lanceolate 



arching hood or spathe flat; spadix cylindric-tapering to clavate, 

 included; fruiting head ovoid or subglobose (2) 



2(1). Primary leaf with 3 segments, the lateral segments rarely bilobed; spathe 

 typically suffused or striped with purple or red-brown; hood nar- 

 rowly ovate to lanceolate, acute-acuminate, 2-3 cm. wide; spadix 

 cylindric to somewhat clavate, straight 2. A. triphyllum. 



2. Primary leaf with 5 segments, the lateral segments sometimes partly united; 



spathes green or yellowish-green; hood broadly ovate, abruptly 



pointed, 3-5 cm. wide; spadix cylindric-tapering, curved 



3. A. quinatum. 



1. Arisaema Dracontium (L.) Schott. Green dragon, dragon-root. 



Leaf usually solitary, with a petiole to 5 dm. long at anthesis; leaflets sometimes 

 confluent at base, elliptic to oblanceolate, acuminate, the central one to 2 dm. 

 long, the outer ones successively smaller, with veins similar to those of A. tri- 

 phyllum; peduncle to 25 cm. long; spathe thin, about 6 cm. long, light green; 

 spadix with long tapering tip to 15 cm. long or more; berries about 1 cm. in dia- 

 meter. Muricaiida Dracontium (L.) Small. 



Rich wet woodlands and alluvial soils in woods and thickets in Okla. (Johnston 

 Co.) and in e. and s.e. Tex., w. onto the Edwards Plateau, May-June; Fla. w. to 

 Okla. and Tex., n. to N. H., Vt. and s.w. Que., s. Ont., Mich, and Wise. 



2. Arisaenia triphyllum (L.) Schott. Jack-in-the-pulpit, Indian-turnip. Fig. 284. 



Leaves mostly 2, with petioles to 4 dm. long at anthesis; leaflets 3, elliptic 

 to rhombic-ovate, acute to acuminate, the lateral ones asymmetrical, with veins 

 parallel from midrib to margin; peduncle to 2 dm. long; spathe suffused or striped 

 with purple or red-brown; hood 2-3 cm. wide; spadix straight; berries about 1 cm. 

 in diameter. 



Wet woods, swamps and boggy areas in e. Okla. and e. and s.e. Tex., May- 

 June; from Ga., w. to Tex., n. to s.e. N.Y., Conn, and s.e. Mass. 



Several segregates have been proposed in this species, which are probably 

 found in our area. The most significant are var. pusillum Peck with lateral 

 leaflets almost symmetrical and with the expanded limb of the spathe 1.5-3 cm. 

 wide and usually all brown or red within; var. Stewardsonii (Britt.) Stevens with 

 the inrolled tubular half of the spathe sharply and deeply corrugated. 



557 



