AUA( K^:. (ahim ia.mii, v.) 549 



brvo. A large family, chielly tropical. lIcTli;i;^r iiltounilin^ in slender 

 rhaphides. — The genuine Aracea? have no Uorul enveloi)es, and are al- 

 most all mona?cious or dia-cioiis ; but the genera of the second section, 

 with more highly developed (lowers, are not to be separated. 



* SpatlK' sunoiiiuling or subtending the siiadix ; llowers naked, i. e. without pcriantli. 

 1. Arisiciuiv. Flowers monocoious or dioecious, covering only the l)ase of the spadix. 

 •-'. I'eltaiidi-a. Flowers nioncEcious, covering the spadix ; antliers above, ovaries below. 

 3. Calla. Flowers perfect (at least the lower ones), covering the whole of the short spadix. 



Spathe open and spreading. 

 « • Spathe surrounding the spadix in n. 4, none or imperfect in the rest ; flowers with a 

 calyx or perianth and perfect, covering the whole spadix. 



4. Syiiiplocarpus. Spadix globular, in a fleshy shell-shaped spathe, Steniless. 



5. Oroiitluiu. Spadix narrow, naked, tenninatin.cr tic terete scape. 

 C. Acorns. Spadix cylindrical, borne on the side ol a ie.if-like scape. 



1. AHIS^MA, Martins. Indian Tlrxih. Dragon Arum. 



Spathe oouvolute below and mostly arched above. Flowers monoecious or 

 by abortion dioecious, covering only the base of the spadix, which is elonga- 

 ted and naked above. Floral envelopes none. Sterile flowers above the fer- 

 tile, each of a cluster of almost sessile 2-4-celled anthers, opening by pores 

 or chinks at the top. Fertile flowers consisting each of a 1 -celled ovary, tipped 

 with a depressed stigma, and containing 5 or 6 orthotropous ovules erect from 

 the l)ase of the cell ; in fruit a 1 -few-seeded scarlet berry. Embryo in the 

 axis of albumen. — Low perennial herbs, with a tuberous rootstock or corm, 

 sending up a simple scape sheathed with the petioles of the simple or compound 

 veiny leaves. (Name from apis, a kind of arum, and af/xa, blood, from the spot- 

 ted leaves of some species.) 



1. A. triph^llum, Torr. (Indian Turnip.) Leaves mostli/ 2, divided 

 into 3 elliptical-ovate pointed leajiets ; spadix mostlij dioecious, cluh-sha])cd, ob- 

 tuse, much shorter than the spathe, which is flattened and incurved-hooded at 

 the ovatedanceolate, pointed summit. — Kich woods, N. Scotia to Fla., west to 

 Minn, and E. Kan. May. — Corm turnip-shaped, wrinkled, farinaceous, with 

 an intensely acrid juice ; spathe with tlie petioles and sheaths green, or often 

 variegated with dark purple and whitish stripes or spots. 



2. A. Dracontium, Schott. (Grekn Dragon. Dragon-root.) Leaf 

 usuallfi solitartj,pedateli/ divided into 7-11 oblong-lanceolate pointed leaflets; 

 sp*idix often androc/i/tious, tapering to a long and slender point beyond the oblong 

 and convolute pointed greenish spathe. — Low grounds, N. Eng. to Fla., west 

 to Minn., E. Kan., and Tex. June. — Corms clustered; petiole 1-2° long, 

 much longer than the peduncle. 



2. PELTANDRA, Raf. Arrow Aru.m. 



Spathe elongated, convolute throughout or with a dilated blade above. 

 Flowers monu-cious, thickly covering the long and tapering sjjadix through- 

 out (or only its apex naked). Floral envelopes none. Anther-masses sessile, 

 naked, covering all the upper ])art of the spadix, each of 4-6 pairs of cells 

 imbedded in the margin of a thick and shield-sliuped connective, opening by 

 terminal pores. Ovaries at the base of the spadix, each surrounded bv 4-5 

 distinct, scale like, white staminodia, 1-celled, bearing 1 -few amphitropous 



