448 
ARACEJE. (ARUM FAMILY.) 
minute. Ovule solitary, suspended, orthotropous. Fruit a large 
globular or oval mass, composed of the enlarged and spongy spa¬ 
dix, inclosing the spherical seeds just beneath the surface, which 
is roughened with the persistent and fleshy sepals and pyramidal 
styles. Seed filled by the large globular and fleshy corm-like em¬ 
bryo, which bears 1 or several plumules at the end next the base of 
the ovary : albumen none. — Perennial herbs, with a strong odor 
like that of the skunk, and also somewhat alliaceous, a thick de¬ 
scending rootstock bearing coarse fibrous roots, and a cluster of 
very large and entire veiny leaves, preceded by the nearly sessile 
spathes. (Name from 007x^X0*07, connection , and Kapiros, fruit , 
in allusion to the coalescence of the ovaries, &c., into a compound 
fruit.) 
1. S. foptidus, Salisb. Leaves ovate, heart-shaped, short-peti- 
oled ; spadix globular, much shorter than the spathe. (Ictddes, Bigel.) 
— Moist grounds, common. March, April. — Leaves l°-2° long, 
fcpathe spotted and striped with purple and yellowish-green, ovate, 
incurved. Fruit ripe in September, forming a roughened globular 
mass 2'-3' in diameter, in decay shedding the bulblet-like seeds, 
which are ^ in diameter, and filled with the singular solid fleshy 
embryo. 
5. ORONTIUM, L. Golden-club. 
Spathe none. Flowers crowded all over a cylindrical spadix, 
perfect: the lower with 6 concave sepals and 6 stamens, the upper 
with 4. Filaments flattened : anthers 2-celled, opening obliquely 
lengthwise. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 amphitropous ovule : stigma 
sessile, minute. Fruit a green utricle. Seed without albumen. 
Embryo thick and fleshy, “ with a large concealed cavity at the 
summit, the plumule curved in a groove on the outside ” ( Torr.)> 
An aquatic perennial, with a deep rootstock, long-petioled and 
entire nerved floating leaves, and the spadix terminating the naked 
scape, which thickens upward. (Origin of the name obscure.) 
L O. aquaticllin, L. — Ponds, Massachusetts to Pennsylva¬ 
nia, near the coast. May. 
6* ACORUS, L. Sweet Flag. Calamus. 
Spadix lateral, sessile, emerging from the side of a scape which 
resembles the leaves, densely covered with perfect flowers. Se¬ 
pals 6, concave. Stamens 6 ; filaments linear : anthers kidney- 
