238 MONOHYPOGYNEZ. 
seeds of the Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus fetidus) are 
as expectorants in North America. 
Officinal Plants. 
Arum maculatum. 
Acorus Calamus. 
Potsonous Properties.—The acrid principle is so p 
erful in some of this family as to render them dangerot 
The Dumb-cane (Caladium seguinum or Dieffenbachia 8 
guina), when chewed for a short time, or even bit, —_ a 
tongue to an enormous degree, and often deprives the i 
vidual of speech for a while. Arum esculentum has so 
what similar properties. 
ORDER XIIL 
PIPERACE#. 
Included in the Urticee of Jussieu. 
Cuaracters.—Shrubs or herbs; leaves alternate, so 
times opposite ; flowers in cylindrical spikes, h 
naked, generally sessile; stamens 3 (Peperomia has only 
slightly adhering to the ovary, hypogynous, and accom ie 
by some irregular scales; ovary superior, one-celled, one- 
seeded, with a sessile stigma ; pericarp fleshy (a berry), inde- 
hiscent, one-celled, one-seeded, the seed erect ; embryo in 
