3. Arisaema quinatuni (Nutt.) Schott. 



Leaves mostly 1, with petioles to about 3 dm. long at anthesis; leaf segments 

 5, broadly ovate-elliptic to suborbicular-oval, tapering at the somewhat oblique 

 base, abruptly acuminate at apex, glaucous beneath, to about 16 cm. long and 10 

 cm. wide, the lower 2 conspicuously the smallest; peduncle to 2 dm. long; spathe 

 green or yellowish-green, the tube 5-6 cm. long; hood broadly ovate and abruptly 

 acuminate, about as long as the tube and 3-6 cm. wide; spadix noticeably broad- 

 ened near base, tapered to apex, curved; fruit 6-7 mm. thick. 



Moist wooded slopes and along stream in woods in e. Tex., Apr.-May; from 

 Tex. e. to Ga. and n. to Tenn. and N.C. 



2. Peltandra Raf. Arrow-arum 

 An American genus of several species. 



1. Peltandra virginica (L.) Kunth. Tuckahoe. Fig. 285. 



Plants monoecious, from thick fibrous or subtuberous roots, consisting of 

 palmately 3-nerved and pinnately veined leaves produced at base along with one 

 or more simple scapes; petiole to about 4 dm. long; leaf blade oblong to broadly 

 triangular, with more or less divergent well-developed basal lobes narrowed to 

 the tip. to 2 dm. long and 15 cm. wide, the basal lobes to 75 mm. wide, shorter 

 than width of blade; scape to 35 cm. tall, in anthesis about equaling the leaves; 

 spathe green with pale or whitish margins, somewhat leathery, to 1 dm. long; 

 flowers unisexual, thickly covering the slender and tapering spadix throughout 

 (or only its apex naked); perianth none; anther masses sessile, naked, covering 

 the upper part of the spadix, each of 4 to 6 pairs of cells embedded in the margin 

 of a thick and shield-shaped connective, opening by terminal pores; ovaries at 

 the base of the spadix, each surrounded by several distinct scalelike staminodia, 

 1 -celled; berry in an ovoid fleshy head, green or light-brown, to about 1 cm. long 

 when dried. P. Tharpii Barkl. 



Swamps, moist woodlands, bogs, along streams and about and in bodies of 

 water in s.e. Okla. (Choctaw Co.) and e. Tex., Apr.-May; from Fla., w. to Tex., 

 n. to s. Me., N.H., Vt., s.w. Que., n. N.Y. and s. Ont. 



A number of varietal segregates have been proposed based mainly on the 

 shape and size of the leaf blades. 



The seeds are eaten by wood duck, marshbirds and shorebirds, and to some 

 extent by muskrats. 



3. Orontium L. Golden Club 

 A monotypic genus of eastern North America. 

 1. Orontium aquaticum L. Fig. 286. 



Plants aquatic, with a deep stout rhizome and basal long-petioled entire leaves; 

 petioles to 2 dm. long; leaf blade with veins parallel from base to apex, to 2 dm. 

 long, about a third as wide; scape to 4 dm. long; spathe incomplete and distant, 

 merely a leaf sheath investing the lower part of the slender scape and bearing 

 a small and imperfect bractlike blade; spadix 2-5 cm. long; flowers perfect, the 

 lower ones with 6 concave sepals and 6 stamens, the uppermost flowers with 4; 

 filaments wide and thin; anthers 2-celled. opening obliquely lengthwise; ovary 1- 

 celled, with an anatropous ovule; fruit a blue-green or brownish utricle. 



Sandy, muddy and peaty shores and shallow water in e. (?) Tex., Apr. -June; 

 from Fla. w. to La. (Cameron Parish) and probably Tex., n. to Mass., cen. N.Y., 

 W.Va. and Ky. 



This species has not yet been found in our area, but since it occurs in Cameron 

 Parish, La. adjacent to Jefl"erson and Orange counties, Texas, there is a good possi- 



560 



