ARACE. L5 
some hours after the opening of the spathe it may be felt with the hands, or tested 
with the thermometer. 
SPECIES 1—A RUM ITALICUM. Mil. 
Pirate MCCCXCIII. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. VII. Tab. XI. Fig. 11. 
Leaves appearing in the beginning of winter; petiole, measured 
from the top of the dilated petiole to the lamina, usually much exceed- 
ing the length of the latter (including the basal lobes) ; lamina oblong- 
triangular, entire, deeply cordate-sagittate or hastate-sagittate, with 
the basal lobes about half as long as the rest of the leaf. Spathe about 
three times as long as the spadix, the upper part oval, concave; apex 
often falling over very shortly after expansion, and before it begins 
to fade. Abortive pistils above and below the anthers, and greatly 
exceeding them in length, those below the anthers rather numerous, 
though fewer than those above. 
In shady places, on the undercliff in the Isle of Wight. Rather 
frequent from St. Laurence to Bonchurch, and probably extending 
further westward. 
» England. Perennial. Late Summer. 
Very similar to A. maculatum, but a larger and stouter plant, the 
rhizome frequently attaining the size of a small egg, but more slender. 
Leaf-sheaths tougher, more tinged with purple. Petioles (exclusive 
of the sheath), 9 to 18 inches long; lamina (including the lobes), 
6 inches to 1 foot long, more triangular, with the basal lobes longer 
than in A. maculatum, and, according to Mr. Hambrough, diverging; 
but the Isle of Wight plant, cultivated by me, has the lobes not more 
divaricate than in A. maculatum, but usually bent upwards sharply 
ataright angle: when the leaf is pressed flat in drying, the lobes 
diverge, and give the appearance of a hastate leaf, which I have never 
seen in the living plant, even in cultivated specimens of the continental 
A. Italicum. Spathe 8 to 15 inches long, greenish-white, thin, and 
apparently unable to support its own weight, as (at least in large 
examples) it falls over, commonly inwards, but sometimes outwards, 
a few hours after it expands. In small specimens this falling over 
frequently does not take place, and the edges become involute, as in 
A. maculatum, than which species A. Italicum flowers (in cultivation) 
a month or six weeks later. Abortive pistils twice as long in pro- 
/portion as in A. maculatum. Naked summit of the club always pale 
‘yellow: in A. maculatum it is often purple, though sometimes pale 
‘yellow. Fruiting-scape 1 to 2 feet high; berries very similar to those 
jof A. maculatam, but longer. Seeds usually only 1 or 2 in each berry, 
nearly as large as a sweet pea-seed, and consequently larger than in the 
SS 
