No. 144.] 



601 



where cultivated in that country, and bears the names of Chow- 

 Tu, Tchou-Tu, Tou-Tchouj Chau-Tchou, Chau-To, and Chau-Tu, 

 which signifies " Arum of the mountain." At Nankin it is very 

 large, and of excellent flavor; that of the country of Chou is 

 better still; but for medicinal purposes they prefer that of the 

 Chou-Tu of Hoai-King, where the root is laxative and sweet. 

 It belongs to the family of Dioscorese, having annual stalks or 

 vines, and perennial roots. The leaves, in general, are opposite, 

 triangular-cordate, acuminated above, with round basilar lobes; 

 having seven or eight principal nerves converging towards the 

 top, between which is a net-work of secondary fibres crossing 

 each other. They are about equal in length 

 and breadth, having a smooth and glossy 

 surface, and of a deep green color. Their 

 petioles, or foot stalks, extend about half 

 their length ; they are strongly canalicu- 

 lated, or furrowed above, and are of a violet 

 color, which shows itself from the moment 

 they spring forth. The flowers are dioe- 

 cius, that is, the sexes growing on different 

 plants, disposed in spiriform bunches, at 

 the junction of the leaves. The corolla 

 of the males is composed of six petals of a 

 pale yellow color, the three outermost ones 

 rounded, and the three inner smaller ones 

 of roundish oval. The stamens, six in 

 number, are extremely small, though well 

 defined, and the anthers are oval, and sup- 

 ported by short filaments, grouped freely 

 in the centre of the flower. As the male 

 plant only has been introduced, the female 

 cannot be described, and consequently no 

 seeds produced before the latter can be 

 procured. See engraving on page 600. 



The roots, or tubers, vary in length and thickness, according \o 

 the nature of the soil, in reference to the lightness, depth, and 

 tenacity, which, no doubt, influences their form and mode of de- 

 velopment. The maximum size to which they grow is about 



