716 AROIDACEA, 
Spadix surrounded by a spathe or naked. Perianth absent, 
or more generally present, and then scaly. Illustrative 
Genera :—Acorus, Linn. ; Orontium, Linn. 
This order was divided by Lindley into two separate orders— 
the Aracee and Acoracewe—on account of the hermaphrodite 
flowers of the latter. In accordance, however, with the more 
general views of botanists, we make but one order, and place the 
two orders of Lindley as sub-orders. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They abound in tropical countries, 
but also occur in cold and temperate regions. There are about 
250 species. 
Fic. 1080. | Fic. 1081. 
Fie. 1082. 
gy 
Fie. 1083. 
Fig. 1080. A plant of the Cuckoo-pint (A7um 
maculatum) in fruit. 6. Corm. J. Leaf. s. 
The remains of the spathe. c. Fruit.—— Fig. 
1081. The spadix of the same with the spathe 
removed; the flowers are all naked and uni- 
sexual, a number of pistillate flowers or 
ovaries being below ; above which are some 
rudimentary ovaries, then a number of sessile 
anthers and above these are some staminodes 
or abortive stamens. Fig. 1082. Vertical 
section of the ovary of the same.——Fig. 
1083. Vertical section of the seed. 
Properties and Uses.—The plants of this order are all more 
or less acrid, and often highly poisonous. But this acrid prin- 
ciple is frequently volatile, or decomposed by heat ; hence it 
may be in such cases more or less destroyed by drying or ex- 
posing to heat the parts in which it is found. The best method 
of getting rid of the acridity is, however, by boiling in water, 
as the acrid matter is also commonly soluble in that fluid. 
