NAT. ORDER. 



Aroideoe. 



CALLA ^THIOPICA. COMMON CALLA. 



Class XX. Gynandria. Order II. Diandria. 



Gen. Char. Spathe, one-leafed, cucullate. Calyx and Corolla, none. 

 Spadix, naked above, bearing- sessile anthers below the middle, 

 and germens at the base. Berry, one-celled, many-seeded. 



Spe. Char. — Stemless. Leaves, ternate. Leaflets, ovate, acuminate, 

 very entire. Spadix, clavate. Spathe, ovate, convolute. 



This genus contains plants of the herbaceous flowery perennial 

 green-house kinds, Arum and its species. The calyx is a one-leafed 

 spathe, ovate-cordate, acuminate, colored at the top, very large, spread- 

 ing, permanent ; the spadix finger-shaped, quite single, erect, covered 

 with fructifications ; corolla none ; the stamens consist of some filaments 

 intermixed with the germs the length of the pistils ; they are perma- 

 nent, compressed and truncate ; the anthers are simple, truncate and 

 sessile ; the pistillum to each is a roundish obtuse germ ; the style 

 simple, very short ; the stigma acute ; the pcricarpium contains as 

 many berries as there are pistils, four-cornered, globular, pulpy, and 

 one-celled ; the seeds are numerous, six to twelve, solitary, cylindric, 

 and obtuse at both ends ; the leaves, which are heart-an-ow-shaped, 

 originate in clusters from the roots, are shining above, and are on long 

 footstalks ; the flowers are peculiarly graceful, at first of a greenish 

 tinge, afterwards changing to the most perfect white ; the stamens are 

 above, the pistils below, set so closely together as not easily to be dis- 

 tinguished. 



The Ethiopian or Common Calla, is a well-known green-house 



Vol. III. — 166. 



