SEDGES AKTTM. 



155 



This old Grerman drinking-cup excited in me feelings 

 of veneration. Would that everywhere on the New 

 Continent the names of those were preserved who, 

 instead of devastating the soil by bloody conquests, 

 confided to it the first fruits of Ceres." 



2. CYPEKACE^ (Sedges). 



These plants much resemble the 

 Grasses, they afford but little 

 nourishment, however, to cattle, 

 having but little starchy matter 

 in them, and being but little 

 succulent. The Cyperus Papy- 

 rus is the plant from which the 

 ancient " papyrus " was made, 

 and is probably (according to 

 Dr. Baird) the plant termed in 

 Scripture the Bull-rush. 



Sedges. 



3. ABACE.& (Arum tribe). 



The Aracese include the Arum 

 maculatum, or Cuckoo-pint, pe- 

 culiar in having the flowers 

 enclosed by a kind of sheath 

 formed like a leaf, and called 

 a "spathe." The "Portland 

 Sago " is obtained from the 

 Ehizome of this plant, but some 

 of the species of this order are 

 poisonous. The Dumb - cane 

 (Caladium Segninum) paralyses 

 the tongue, if chewed. 



Arum. 



