3o6 AR OIDEM. V " ^ f • 



Type — Typha elephantina. 

 A perennial herb, growing on the borders of tanks and 

 lakes, with radical ensiform leaves, and a tall scape termi- 

 nating in a cylindrical inflorescence, of which the lower 

 portion consists of female, the upper, separated by a short 

 interval, of male flowers, very densely packed. 



The flowers are achlamydeous ; the males consisting of 

 two or four stamens, the female of a pedicellate pistil, with 

 a one-celled ovary, surrounded by a whorl of hair-like 

 filaments, representing a perianth. 



The leaves are used for matting, and are said to be tied 

 up in bundles to serve as swimming floats. The pollen 

 is collected, and made up into cakes, and eaten as bread, in 

 Western India. 



98. Natural Order, Aroidea. — The Arum Family. 

 Stem herbaceous, or woody, or wanting, with leaves usually 

 net-veined. Flowers monoecious (sometimes dioecious or 

 hermaphrodite), sessile on a spadix. Perianth usually o, 

 or of minute scales. 



Type — Kuchoo or Kachalu {Colocasia antiquorum), 

 A stemless, perennial herb, extensively cultivated, with 

 large, radical, peltate, arrow-head leaves and monoecious 

 achlamydeous flowers arranged upon a fleshy spike {spadix), 

 enclosed in a yellowish sheathing bract {spathe). 



The lower portion of the spadix is occupied by numerous 

 female flowers, each consisting of pistil only, with one- 

 celled ovary and several ovules upon two or three placentas. 

 Adjoining and above the female flowers are some abortive 

 pistils, then a number of closely-packed male flowers, each 

 reduced to a single two-celled anther, opening by minute 

 pores at the top. The anthers cohere, side by side, in 

 masses. The spadix is prolonged beyond the crowded 

 stamens into an acute " appendix," which takes no part in 



