Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 27 



WATER ARUM (Calla palustris) is our only rep- 

 resentative of its genus. It is quite a common plant 

 in cool bogs, where it grows from six inches to a 

 foot in height. The root stalks are perennial and 

 branch out through the soft mud, continually throw- 

 ing up new plants, until shallow ponds may become 

 completely carpeted with the beautiful dark green, 

 heart shaped leaves. The leaves stand above the 

 water on long petioles. This plant is distinguished 

 by a beautiful, waxy-white, spreading spathe that is 

 often mistaken for the flower. 



The true flowers are small and perfect, clustered 

 at the end of a yellow spadix. They give forth a 

 rather disagreeable odor that attracts to them num- 

 erous little flies that assist in pollenization, although 

 the plant is capable of self-fertilization.. 



Each plant usually has but two leaves. The flower- 

 ing season is in June; in August they have been 

 transformed into clusters of red berries. You may 

 find this plant commonly in cool bogs from N. J. and 

 Mo. northwards. 



GOLDEN CLUB (Orontium aquaticum) is also our 

 only member of its genus. As you will see by the op- 

 posite picture, there is no protective spathe for the 

 golden floral club, yet it flourishes equally as well 

 as its more fortunate relatives. 



The florets are complete, having six sepals and 

 stamens; they are set closely on the swollen spadix 

 and attract many flies and even water snails that 

 cross-fertilize them simply by crawling over the clubs. 



While there is no apparent spathe about the flower 

 spike, it appears a little lower on the stem as a leaf- 

 like, sheath. The leaves of the Golden Club are 

 pointed oblong in shape, floating on the surface of the 

 water by means of long stems from the perennial 

 rootstalk. Flowers in May from Mass, to Fla. and 

 westwards. 



