XXX. AROIDEEE. 837 



phophallus). Flowers and $ numerous, sometimes separated by rudimentary 

 organs. Anthers free or rarely coherent, cells larger than the connective. Ovaries 

 free, 1-celled, 1-several-ovuled ; stigma sessile or sub-sessile; ovules orthotropous 

 or very rarely anatropous (Amorphophalhis) , pendulous and erect in the same cell. 

 Seeds albuminous, or very rarely exalbuminous (Amorphophallus) . Herbs with a usually 

 tuberous or thick rhizome. Leaves strongly palmi-pelti-nerved, entire, cordate, hastate, 

 sagittate, or palmi-pedati-partite. Spathe coloured, usually violet, glabrous or hairy 

 within and foetid. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Arisarum. * Arum. * Dracunculus. * Arisoema. Typlionium. 



Pythonium. Biarum. Sauromatum. * Amorphophallus. 



SECTION VII. CRYPTOCORYNE^E. Spadix included and jointed to the spathe by 

 its top (Cryptocoryne), or projecting and free (Stylochceton) . Flowers ? numerous, 

 the lower separated from the J . Anthers sessile or sub-sessile at the top of the 

 spadix. Carpels numerous, whoiied around the base of the spadix, and united into 

 a several-celled ovary ; styles as many as carpels ; ovules ascending, orthotropous. 

 Sudimentary organs or indistinct. Seeds albuminous. Marsh herbs (Cryptocoryne), 

 or growing in sand (Stylochcetori), rhizome stoloniferous. Leaves sub-1-nerved, or 

 palmi-nerved, entire, lanceolate, emarginate at the base or sagittate. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Cryptocoryne. Stylochseton. Lagenfindra. 



SECTION VIII. PISTIACE^E. Spadix adnate to the spathe. Flower $ solitary, 

 separate from, the $ flowers. Anthers sessile at the top or side of the spadix. 

 Ovary 1-celled, many-ovuled ; styles distinct; ovules basilar or sub-lateral, erect, 

 orthotropous. Eudimentary organs 0. Seeds albuminous. Aquatic floating herbs, 

 stoloniferous, or terrestrial with tuberous rhizome. Leaves entire, several-nerved. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Pistia. Ambrosinia. 



Aroide, in spite of their polymorphism, foim a very homogeneous group; they have an obvious 

 affinity -with Typhaccce and Pandanece ; the former differing in the structure of the anthers, the latter in 

 the conformation of the fruit. Pistia approaches Lemnacece, the anthers and seeds of which present so 

 close an analogy -with Aroidca that certain authors have placed them in the same family. Lindley, in 

 fact joins Lemnacece to Pistiacece, which he separates from Aroideee ; but he equally separates Orontiacea, 

 which he classes (we think wrongly) between Liliacece and Junccce ; Orontiaccee are inseparable from 

 true Aroidea, and this affinity is confirmed by an observation of Gasparrini, who has seen monstrous 

 flowers of Arum italicum with a perianth analogous to that of Acorns and Orontium. 



The leaves of Aroidete, which are very variable in shape, texture and nervation, recall sometimes 

 Sparyanicce (Acortts), sometimes Marantacca; (Aylaonema marantafoliuni), sometimes Smilacea 

 ( Goniurus), sometimes Taccacecc (Draamctilus, Amorphophallus), and sometimes even some Dicotyledons, 

 as Aquilarinece (Heteropsis salicifolici), or Cycadece (Zamiocidcas). They are sometimes jointed like those 

 of Oranges (Pothos), or stipulate like those of Piperacea> j but, with the exception of Anthiirium riulaceum, 

 which bears some peltate epidermal scales, all known Aroideee have glabrous leaves. The fruits of 

 some Anthuriums detach from the spadix by a peculiar mechanism, and remain suspended by elongated 

 fibrous cords, similar to those which retain the seeds of Magnolia at the moment when the fruit buwts. 



