DIV. II 



ANGIOSPERMAE 



741 



POISONOUS. Many Araceae are poisonous. Ga.Ua, palustris in peaty swamps. 

 Arum maculatum (Fig. 824), a perennial herb with tuberous rhizome, common in 

 woods. It develops a number of stalked, hastate leaves, the brown spots on which 

 give the plant its specific name. The flowers are monoecious, without perianth ; 

 the female flowers stand at the base of the spadix and the male a short distance 

 above them. Above the latter come a number of sterile flowers with downwardly 



FIG. 822. Coco-nut Palms at Hilo, Hawaii. Pandanus odoratissimus in front of the Palms. 



directed, hair-like points, which stand at the level of the constricted portion of the 

 spathe ; this is widely open above. These hairs allow insects, attracted by the 

 peculiar scent or seeking warmth, to creep into the lower expanded portion 

 of the spathe, but prevent their return until the female flowers have been 

 pollinated from another individual. When this is accomplished the hairs wither 

 and the anthers open. The escaping insects, now dusted with pollen, may enter 

 other inflorescences and pollinate the flowers. 



3BI 



