288 



as palliatives in paroxysms of asthma. Barton, 1. 130. The prepared root 

 of Dracontium polyphyllum is supposed in India to possess antispasmodic 

 virtues, and is considered a valuable remedy in asthma ; it is also used in 

 hemorrhoids. Ainslie, 2. 50. The root of the Labaria plant of Demerara, 

 which is probably the same thing:, is thought bv the Indians to be an antidote 

 to the bite of serpents. Ed. N. Ph. Journ., Jtine 1830, p. 169. The root 

 of Acorus calamus is aromatic and stimulant. The seeds of Orontium aqua- 

 ticum and Arum sagittifolium are acrid, but become eatable by roasting. 

 The spadixes of some species have a fetid putrid smell ; others, such as 

 Arum cordifolium, Italicum, and maculatum, are said to disengage a sensible 

 quantity of heat at the time when ihey are about to expand. Agardh con- 

 siders that the acrid principle, which, notwithstanding its fugacity, has been 

 lately obtained pure, is no doubt of great power as a stimulant. Aph. 133. 



The following are the principal natural divisions of this order : — 



I. Flowers unisexual. Perianthium wanting. 

 Aroideae verae, Brown Prodr. 335. (1810.) 

 Examples. Arum, Caladium. 



II. Flowers hermaphrodite. Perianthium present. 



Orontiacese, Brown Prodr. 337. (1810). — Acoroidea^, Agardh Aph. 

 133. (1822.) 



Examples. Dracontium, Pothos, Gymnostachys, Acorus. 



CCLVII. BALANOPHORE^. 



Balanophoiie/e, Bich. in Mini. Mux. 8. 429. (1822) Cynomorie.-e, Agardh Aph. 



203. (1825), a § o/Urticese. 



Diagnosis. Spadiceous monocotyledons, with an inferior ovarium and 

 m.onoecious flowers. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character Floivers monoecious, collected in dense heads, which are 



roundisli or ohlong, usually bearing both male and female flowers, but occasionally having 

 the sexes distinct ; the receptacle covered with scales or setnp variable in form, here and 

 there bearing also peltate thick scales; rarely naked. Male floivers pedicellate; calyx 

 deeply 3-parted, equal, spreading, with somewhat concave segments ; in Cynomorium there 

 is a tliick, truncate, ol)conical scale in room of a calyx. Stamens 1-3 (seldom more), epigy- 

 nous, with both united filaments and anthers ; the latter 3 ; in Cynomorium 1 only, con- 

 nate, 2-celled ; eacli cell being divided into 2 cavities, sometimes turned inwards, sometimes 

 outwards, opening by a longitudinal slit. Female flowers : Orarhim inferior, 1 -celled, 1- 

 seeded, crownc^d by the limi) of the calyx, which is eitlier marginal and nearly inverted, or 

 consisting of from 2 to 4 uneciual leaflets ; oviilum j)endul()us. Sti/lc 1, seldom 2, filiform, 

 tapering; stitpna simple, terminal, rather convex. Frnit a roundish (viryopsis, crowned liy 

 the remains of the limb of the calyx. Vcricurpiiim rather thick ; alhumen globose, fleshy- 

 cellular, whitish, very large. Fmhryo very minute in proportion to the albumen, roundish, 



■whitish, enclosed in a superficial excavation, undivided Fungus-like ]>lants, psirasitical 



upon roots ; roots fleshv, horizontal, branched ; stem naked, or c-overed by imbricated scales. 

 Rich. 



Affinities. This higldy curious order has the same relation to Mono- 

 cotyledons as Cytineae to Dicotyledons. The late M. Richard is the only 

 botanist who has written specially upon it, and to him we owe an excel- 

 lent Monograph. He observes that the nearest aflinity of the order is 

 with Hydrocharideae, while at the same time it must be admitted that its 

 relation is by no means intimate. The habit of the two orders is very 



