220 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



kind of Yam, a common article of food in tropical regions. 

 Several of the genera are among our native plants. 



Arum. L. 19. 1. 



Spathe 1 -leafed, rolled in at the base, turned over the flower- 

 stem or spadix, which is naked at its extremity, while the ovaries 

 are at its base, and the stamens above them ; berry 1 -celled. 



Latin form of the Greek name for this plant. The genus be- 

 longs chiefly to hot chmates ; roots hot, acrid, fleshy, some of 

 them eatable ; a singular, and somewhat beautiful genus. 



.^. triphyllum. L. Wild or Indian Turnip. Wake Robin, 

 of the English. This plant grows in very difi:erent situations, in 

 the alluvial soil of rivers and in damp upland woods, and some- 

 times in rather wet places. It attracts attention from its singular 

 form, sending up from its short stem 1 or 2 stalks, each bearing 

 3 long and acutish leafets, becoming glaucous or sea-green. Its 

 dense mass of insignificant flowers is concealed by a cylindric 

 spathe, or inclosing leaf, which terminates in a large, hood-like 

 leaf, turned down and over the flowers, and often beautifully 

 variegated. A club-like projection extends beyond the flowers, 

 as it were to remove the hood at such a distance from the flowers 

 as to afford them room and free circulation of air with protection. 

 It flowers in May, and in August it shows a dense head of red 

 berries. Root fleshy, bulbous, and the dark wrinkled skin on the 

 under side of the root is its natural, and not diseased form. The 

 acrid quahty of this plant is even violent, and extends to all parts of 

 it ; by drying, roasting, or boiling, it loses this property to a 

 considerable extent. The dried root is in popular use, being 

 grated and taken as grateful and warming to the stomach, and 

 tending to allay a feverish disposition. Boiled in milk the roots 

 are a popular, but not very sure, remedy for consumption. Big- 

 elow's " Medical Botany." 



w3. atrorubens. L. A smaller, and somewhat fetid plant ; 

 probably only a variety of the preceding. 



A. dracontium. L. Green Dragon. Seems not to be a 

 native of New England ; cultivated at Deerfield. 



