22 ELEMENTS OF BOTANY. 



the spadix at its summit ; spatlie convolute below, usually 

 dilated and arched above, withering persistent ; spadix bear- 

 ing the monoecious or dioecious flowers at its base, the apex 

 sterile and naked 5 perianth none ; stamens 4 in a whorl, 

 nearly sessile ; ovaries 1-celled, 1-6-ovuled ; stigma sessile ; 

 fruit a 1-few-seeded red berry. 



1. A. TKiPHYLLUM (L.) Torr. Indian Turnip. Leaves 2, tri- 

 foliate, leaflets sessile, oval or ovate, acuminate, entire, netted- 

 veined ; petioles and scape 1-li ft. high ; flowers monoecious or 

 dioecious ; spathe dilated above, arched over the top of the spadix, 

 green with purple stripes on the inside ; spadix club-shaped, florif- 

 erous below ; stamens very short ; ovaries crowded, ovules •1-6 ; fruit 

 bright scarlet, forming an ovoid head about 1 in. long. March- 

 April. In rich woods. 



2. A. Dracontium (L.) Schott. Dragon Root. Corras several ; 

 leaf usually solitary, petiole 1-3 ft. high, enclosed by membranous 

 sheaths, leaf pedately divided into 7-15 segments which are nearly 

 or quite sessile, oblong or oblanceolate, usually acute at the apex, 

 entire or the lower ones lobed ; scape sheathed at the base, usually 

 shorter than the petiole ; spathe light green, convolute, acuminate, 

 1-2 in. long ; spadix slender, tapering to a slender point, 4-7 in. 

 long, flower-bearing only in the part enclosed by the spathe ; fruit 

 reddish orange, 1-3-seeded, in a large ovoid head. March-April. In 

 rich woods. 



II. PELTANDRA. 



Perennial marsh herbs with creeping rootstocks ; leaves 

 sagittate, acute, entire, the base of the petioles sheathing the 

 rootstock ; scape shorter than the petiole ; spathe elongated, 

 thick and fleshy ; flowers monoecious, covering the entire 

 spadix, staminate flowers above ; perianth none ; stamens 

 5-10, imbedded in a peltate, shield-like connective which 

 finally shrivels so as to leave the anthers free ; ovaries im- 

 bedded in the spadix, surrounded by a fcAV abortive stamens ; 

 ovules 1 or few ; style short ; stigma capitate ; fruit 1-3-seeded, 

 green or red berries forming a globose head partially enclosed 

 by the base of the spathe ; seeds enclosed in a gelatinous 



P. YiRGiNiCA (L.) Kunth. Green Arrow-arum. Leaves sev- 

 eral, sometimes 2 ft. long, prominently and finely veined with 2-3 

 intra-marginal nerves ; scape nearly as long as the petiole, recurved 



