THE VERBENA FAMILY 



149 



eaten, after the acrid and poisonous juice, characteristic of the 

 family, is driven off by the process of cooking. P othos scandens 

 (Kan. Adite balli) 

 a climber with 

 small lanceolate 

 leaves and winged 

 petioles; Rhaphi- 

 dophora j)ertusa 

 (Ka n. K a n d d i 

 balli) with large 

 holes in its leaves; 

 Arisaema tortiiosiim (the 

 Snake-Lily), with the appen- 

 dage of its spadix curved out- 

 ward and then back over the spathe. Pistia 

 stratiotes, a small herb floating on still waters 

 having rosettes of wedge-shaped leaves. 



Fig. 134. — Root-end of Pandanus. 



Fig. 133. — Spadix of 

 Arismna tortuosum. 



Allied Families. 



The Screw-Pine 

 {Pandanus tectorius; 

 Kan. Kedage ; Mai. 

 Ketaki ; San. Ketaki) 

 belongs to the Panda- 

 nacece. It is often plant- 

 ed for fences on account 

 of its spinous leav^es, 

 which are also used for 

 matting. The spines are 

 on the m argin, as well as 

 on the under-side of the 

 midrib, and the leaves 

 are arranged in three 



