ARACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 363. 



ARUM. 



Spathe convolute at bottom. Spadix naked at the upper 

 end, interruptedly unisexual at the bottom. Rudimentary 

 organs beneath and occasionally above the stamens. Anthers 

 sessile, distinct or variously consolidated, with 2 lateral cells 

 opening by a partial slit. Ovaries free, 1-celled, with 2-6 ovules 

 attached to the inner lining ; stigmas sessile, obtuse. Berries 

 1 -seeded or few-seeded. Seeds albuminous. Blume. 



1280. A. maculatum Linn, sp.pl. J370. Eng. Bot. t. 1298. 

 Woodv. t. 25. Smith Eng. Fl. iv. 146. A. vulgare Lam. 



fl.fr. 1 150. Blume Rumphia i. 1 17. All the temperate parts 

 of Europe, coast of Barbary, and the higher mountains of Ma- 

 deira. (Wake Robin.) 



Tubers large, flat, buried under ground. The whole herbage of a 

 bright shining green. Leaves stalked, sagittate, more or less hastate, 

 acute, erect, spotted variously with dingy purple, or unspotted. Spathe 

 on a radical scape, erect, pale green, occasionally spotted ; its npper 

 part ovate-oblong, acuminate. Spadix clavate, obtuse, purple or yellow- 

 ish. Berries scarlet, remaining long after their spathe and the foliage 

 of the plant have withered. The tubers are composed of a large 

 quantity of amylaceous matter, mixed with an acrid poisonous juice. 

 By repeated washing and by means of heat the acrid principle is 

 removed, and the residuum is a bland nutritious substance of the nature 

 of Arrow root, which is manufactured in the island of Portland, and 

 thence called Portland Sago. It is used extensively in some parts of 

 Dorsetshire. In the recent state the tubers are stimulant, diaphoretic, 

 and expectorant. 



ARIS^EMA. 



Spathe convolute at base. Spadix naked at the point, uni- 

 sexual or $ below ; rudimentary organs placed above the $ , or 

 altogether absent. Anthers on distinct filaments, whorled, with 

 the cells either disjoined or approximated, opening by a pore or 

 transverse cleft. Ovaries distinct, 1-celled ; ovules 2-6, sel- 

 dom more, at the base, erect ; styles absent or short ; stigmas 

 undivided. Berry 1-seeded, or few-seeded; seeds albuminous. 

 Blume. 



1281. A. atrorubens Blume Humph, i. 97. Arum atroru- 

 bens Hort. Kew. iii. 315. A. triphyllum Linn. sp. pi. 965. 



601 



