464 PLANTS AND MAN 



On the western plains we find an aromatic shrub of the thistle 

 family — sagebrush. Sagebrush, which includes a great number of 

 species common to the central and western states, has foliage of a 

 gray-green color. The sagebrush flowers are grouped in small 

 yellow or purple heads. This is one of the few wind-pollinated 

 genera of the family. 



The Arum Family 



The Arum Family (Araceae) includes plants which show a 

 marked preferance for wet and swampy habitats; typical of this 

 Monocot family are the numerous small flowers without sepals or 

 petals, clustered on a fleshy axis which is often surrounded by a 

 large and showy spathe (fig. 282). One of the most familiar 

 members of the family is the earliest of the spring pioneers — the 

 SKUNK CABBAGE whosc purpUsh grccu spathes form conical hoods 

 over the floral axis. After the appearance of the flowers, the coarse 

 large leaves appear. Skunk cabbage is common throughout east- 

 ern swamplands. Jack-in-the-pulpit, also known as Indian 

 TURNIP because of its starchy and tuberous root stock, produces 

 several compound leaves and an erect purple or dark green 

 spathe which surrounds and arches over the "jack" — the fleshy 

 axis bearing the small flowers. Jack-in-the-pulpit also grows in 

 moist woods throughout eastern United States. Sw^eet flag is a 

 semi-aquatic plant found from New England to Texas; it has 

 long tapering leaves, some of which function as an open spathe 

 and surround the axis with its small yellowish flowers. Golden 

 CLUB, likewise partial to wet habitats over the same area, has 

 long narrow leaves and a leaf-like spathe beneath the compact 

 mass of golden flowers which suggests the common name. Water 

 ARUM or v^iLD CALLA is fouud in cold swamps and along lake 

 margins in our northeastern states; the leaves are large and 

 heart-shaped, and a white spathe forms a conspicuous portion of 

 the inflorescence. 



The Lily Family 



Some of the most attractive flowers found in the Monocot 

 group are included in the Lily Family (Liliaceae). Many of the 



