Ttpha.] TYPHACE^!. 423 



channelled towards the base ; spikes §-§ in. diam., separated by §~1 in., 

 female often interrupted, bracteate ; female flowers bracteate, perianth- 

 scales dilated towards the tip ; stigmas broader. — Distrib. Europe (excl. 

 Greece), N. Africa, N. Asia, India, N. America. 



Order LXXXIV. aroide's, 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves various. Spathe 1-leaved. Flowers on a 

 spadix, 1- or 2-sexual ; perianth 0, or hypogynous and polyphyllous. 

 Stamens few or many ; anthers 2-celled, dehiscing outwards, or by terminal 

 pores. Ovary 1- or more-celled ; style simple or 0, stigma capitate or 

 discoid ; ovules 1 or more, variously attached. Berry 1- or more-celled. 

 Seeds 1 or more, albumen abundant fleshy or mealy, rarely ; embryo 

 various.— Distrib. Trop. aud temp, regions ; genera 100 ; species 1,000. 

 — Affinities. With Pandanece and Typhacece. — Properties. Acrid 

 and poisonous. 



Flowers 1-sexual; perianth 1. Arum. 



Flowers 2-sexual; perianth-segments free 2. Acorus. 



1. A RUM, L. 



Rootstock tuberous. Leaves radical, nerves reticulate ; petiole sheathing 

 at the base. Scape terete. Spathe convolute, contracted above the base. 

 Spadix contracted below the middle, terminated by a naked cylindric 

 column, bearing from the base upwards, lstly a crowd of naked sessile 

 ovaries ; 2dly pistillodes ; 3dly a crowd of naked sessile anthers ; 4thly 

 staminodes. Anthers 2-4-celled, dehiscence terminal. Ovary 1-celled ; 

 stigma sessile ; ovules few, basal, erect, orthotropous. Berry fleshy. 

 Seeds few, testa coriaceous, albumen mealy ; embryo short, radicle 

 opposite the hilum. — Distrib. N. temp, and sub-trop. regions ; species 

 about 20.— Etym. doubtful. 



1. A. macula' turn, L. ; leaves vernal, spathe twice as long as the 

 spadix. Cuckoo-pint, Lords and Ladies. 



Woods and hedges, from Caithness southd. ; ascends to 1,000 ft. in N. England ; 

 ? wild in Scotland; Ireland; Channel Islands; fl. April-May. — Corms 

 annual, new produced at the base of the stem. Leaves 6-10 in., hastate- 

 cordate, often spotted black, lobes acute or obtuse. Scape short, lengthened 

 in fruit. Spathe 6-10 in., erect, yellow-green, edged and. often spotted with 

 purple, base persistent. Spadix above dull purple, rarely yellow. Berries 

 \ in. diam., crowded, scarlet, bursting the base of the spathe. Seeds 2-3, 

 testa reticulate. — Distrib. From Gothland southd., N. Africa. — Corms 

 yield Portland arrow-root. 



2. A. ital'icuru, Miller ; leaves hibernal, spathe thrice as long as the 

 spadix. 



