OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 33 



Arisaema Triphyllum. 



Syns. A. ZEBRINUM and ARUM TRIPHYLLUM ; Common Names, 

 THREE-LEAVED ARUM and JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT ; Nat. 

 Ord. ARACE^:. 



A HARDY tuberous-rooted perennial from North America. I 

 will at once explain that the above leading name is not the one 

 generally used here, but in America, where the species is 

 common, botanists have adopted it ; besides, it is, as will be 

 seen from the following description, very distinct from other 

 Arums. The Syn. Ariscema zebrinum, as given, belongs really to 

 a variety of A. triphyllmn, but the type is marked in its flowers 

 zebra-like, and there are many shades and colours of it, there- 

 fore both or either of the names may be used for the different 

 forms, with a fair degree of propriety, as in fact they are. 



There is a doubt with some as to the hardiness of this plant ; 

 in my mind there is none whatever. It is no stranger to frosts 

 in its habitats, but I do not found my conviction on anything 

 but my experience of it. It has been grown fully exposed for 

 two winters, and sometimes the frosts must have gone as far 

 down as the roots. 



There is nothing showy about this plant, but there is some- 

 thing which stamps it as a fitting subject for a garden of choice 

 plants ; its bold, dark green foliage and quaint-looking flowers 

 render it desirable on the score of distinctness. It has, more- 

 over, a freshness upon which the eye can always linger. The 

 flowers are in general form like the calla-lily ; the upper part of 

 the spathe, or sheathing leaf, which is really the calyx, is, 

 however, more elongated, pointed, and hooked; otherwise the 

 spathe is erect, slightly reflexed just above the folded part, 

 giving the appearance of a pair of small lobes ; this the calyx 

 is really the most conspicuous part of the flower ; in the belly it 

 is beautifully striped with broad lines of a purplish-brown 

 colour, which shade off to an inch of green in the middle, when 

 they form again, and continue to the tip of the spathe, which 

 will be 4in. to 6in. long, and nearly 2in. broad at the widest 

 part ; these lines run between the ribs, and, as before hinted, 

 they are of various colours, such as brown, purple, pink, and 

 green. The ribs are nearly white, and the green parts are very 

 pale. The spadix is over 3in. long, club-shaped, spotted with 

 brown, very much so near the end. The anthers at the base of 

 the spadix are curious, and should be examined. They are 

 invisible until the folded part of the spathe is opened ; they are 

 numerous, arranged in a dense broad ring, sessile, and nearly 

 black. This curious flower is produced on a stout, round scape, 

 a foot or more in height. The leaves are radical, having a stalk 

 a foot long. They are, as the specific name implies, divided into 

 three parts, each being of equal length, entire, wavy, and pointed. 



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