254 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



September 9, 1906, much of the dead-ripe fruit was observed in 

 the woods east of the lake. It varies greatly in size and general 

 appearance, some of the plants being small with a very dark brown 

 spathe. These may represent the species pusillum. On account 

 of their oddity and handsomeness, the Jack-in-the-pulpit, especially 

 the striped forms, is well worthy of cultivation in wild-flower 

 gardens. The cells of this plant, as indeed most of our aroids, con- 

 tain bundles of numerous needle-like crystals or "rhaphides" of 

 oxalate of lime, and it is probably due to the pricking of these 

 needles that the intense acrid taste of these plants is due. 



170. GREEN DRAGON 



ARISAEMA DRACONTIUM (L.) Schott 



Not so abundant nor widely distributed as the other, usually 

 confined to the banks of creeks or borders of ponds. Most of the 

 plants found were in the low woods by Overmyer's or by swamps 

 in Farrar's woods. It was in flower by May 25. The fruits, like 

 red ears of corn, were conspicuous along Yellow River, north of 

 the lake, in the autumn of 1907. 



171. GREEN ARROW-ARUM 



PELTANDRA VIRGINICA (L.) Kunth 



Not particularly abundant about the lake but pretty well scat- 

 tered along the shore at various places. There were several plants 

 in Lake Maxinkuckee at the source of the Outlet, some in front of 

 Inlet marsh, one plant between the Inlet and Norris's, a few in 

 the upper end of Lost Lake, and some in the swamps between Over- 

 myer's and Farrar's. It was quite common in the thoroughfare 

 between the lakes. The dark-green calla-like leaves are quite at- 

 tractive. The plants began leafing out by May 3, 1901, and some 

 of the leaves were fully developed by May 17, and by June 24 some 

 were in flower. The flower is rather inconspicuous with a bulb- 

 shaped green base, tipped by a delicate whitish-green spathe undu- 

 late along one side. The ornamental projection of the spathe soon 

 drops off, leaving the bulbous portion, which by making a sharp 

 turn on its stem, buries itself under the surface of the water, where 

 it ripens. Ripe fruit was found October 25, 1904. 



The seeds are covered by a gelatinous material and are said to 

 be a favorite food for wild geese. 



