492 



ANGIOSPERMAEMONOCOTYLEDONES 



and the end of the spadix, and by the smell of the inflorescence, which resembles 

 that of decaying fruit. 



Martelli (Nuovo Giorn. bot. ital., Firenze, xxii, 1890, p. 129) adds that the 

 protogynous inflorescences open in the morning. The stigmas are then receptive, 

 but the anthers have not yet dehisced. The faecal odour is at its strongest in the 

 upper part of the spadix, on which visitors alight. On the following day the anthers 

 dehisce; the male flowers are situated on an inflorescence covered by a hood-like 

 spathe. 



2913. A. Dioscoridis Sibth. et Sm. Caleri says that the spathe in this species 

 opens early in the morning; between 8-9 a.m. it is visited by numerous flies 

 (particularly muscids). The spathe then closes, the odour disappearing at the same 

 time. On the second day the prisoners are set free. The stigmas of the protogynous 

 flowers are therefore receptive for a very short time only. 



940. Arisarum Targ. Toz. 



PP 



2914. A. vulgare Targ. 

 21-2; Knuth, 'Bliitenbiol. 



Toz. (=. Arum Arisarum Z.). (Delpino, ' Ult. oss.,' 

 Beob. a. d. Ins. Capri,' pp. 18-25.) While in the 

 island of Capri during March 1892 

 I could not observe the first stage 

 of anthesis of this interesting 

 species, because the plant was 

 too far matured, but the flower 

 mechanism was still easily dis- 

 tinguishable. Insects are attracted 

 by the striped spathe and the pro- 

 jecting end of the spadix, and are 

 temporarily imprisoned. At an 

 early stage these two organs are 

 of a greenish colour, the spathe 

 below its arched tip being greenish 

 with white longitudinal streaks. 

 In a later stage the curved tip of 

 the spadix, projecting 1-5-2 cm., 

 is of a faint brownish tinge, and 

 the hitherto greenish parts of the 

 spathe assume the same colour, 

 so that the upper, arched part of it appears to be brown, and the lower, cylindrical 

 part is marked by about twenty brown and white streaks. Insects are attracted 

 to the nectar, however, by the off'ensive, putrid smell of the inflorescence. 



The spathe is about 4 cm. high, and the same in circumference. It is slightly 

 contracted above, and roofed over by a pointed, dark-coloured lobe, bending over 

 like a helmet, which keeps light from penetrating into the trap. 



About ten female flowers are situated at the base of the spadix. Above them, 

 loosely arranged for a distance of 1-5 cm., are the much more numerous (up to 40) 

 male flowers, each consisting of a single short-stalked anther. The inflorescence is 



Fig. 411. Arisarum vulgare^ Targ. Tos (from nature). 

 A. Inflorescence with spathe intact. B. Do., after removal of 



spathe. 



