ARIS^MA INDIAN TURNIP. 263 



flower in threes. Embryo with a single cotyledon (or seed-leaf), whence 

 the term monocotyledonous. 



ARACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Plants with an acrid or pungent juice, simple 

 or compound alternate leaves, and flow- 

 ers on a spadix which is commonly 

 surrounded by a spathe. Floral enve- 

 lopes absent, or of -4 to 6 sepals. Fruit 

 usually a berry. 



A large order of chiefly tropical 

 plants. In general they possess acrid 

 and irritating properties. 



ARIS^MA.— Indian Turnip. 



Arisaema triphyllum Torrey. — 



Indian Turnip. 



Description. — Flowers monoecious 

 or by abortion dioecious, crowded upon 

 the base of an elongated, club-shaped 

 spadix, which is surrounded and cov- 

 ered by a flattened, incurved, hooded 

 spathe ; both spathe and spadix, the for> 

 mer especially, often variegated Avith 

 dark purple spots and stripes. Floral 

 envelope absent. Sterile flowers above 

 the fertile, each of a cluster of 2- to 4- 

 celled anthers ; fertile flowers, consist- 

 ing of a single 1-celled, 5- to 6-ovuled 

 ovary, forming in fruit a scarlet, 1- to 5- 

 seeded berry. Leaves mostly two, di- ^i«- is-.-Arisrema triphyiium. 



vided into 3 elliptical-ovate, entire, pointed, veiny leaflets. 



A low perennial herb, with a wrinkled, turnip-shaped, farinaceous corm. 

 It blooms in April and IMay. 



Habitat. — In rich woods, everywhere. 



Pa7^ts Used. — The corm— not ofiicial. 



Constituents. — Indian turnip contains an intensely acrid principle which 

 has not yet been isolated. It is evidently very volatile, being partially lost 

 in drying, and entirely so by long keeping. 



Preparations.— It has been employed in substance and in syrup. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — In the recent state Indian turnip, applied 

 to the skin, may vesicate ; being chewed it leaves in the mouth an acrid 



