AKACE^. 13 



Sjiathe appearing after the leaves, lai'ge, concave, much exceeding the 

 spadix. 



Dr. llayno gives ns apov as the Greek analogue of tlie name of this genus of plants j 

 hcucu its origin. (Theophr. vii. 11, 12.) 



SPECIES L-ARUM MACULATUM. Linn. 



Plate MCCCXCII. 



Fei'ch. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. "VTI. Tab. Vni. Fig. 8. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 465. 



Leaves appearing in spring ; petiole, measured from the top of the 

 dilated sheath to the lamina, not exceeding the length of latter 

 (including the basal lobes) ; lamina triangular-oblong, entire, deeply 

 cordate-sagittate, with the basal lobes less than half, and usually not 

 more than one-third of the length of the rest of the leaf. Spathe 

 scarcely twice as long as the spadix, and often less, the upper part 

 elliptical, with the edges inflexed, the apex not falling over till it 

 fades. Abortive pistils above and below the anthers, and not much 

 exceeding them in length ; those below few in number. 



On hedge-banks and in open woods. Common, and generally dis- 

 tributed in England. Rare in Scotland, where it is received as a 

 native as far north as the Forth and Clyde ; but I have not myself 

 seen it in any Scotch station where it does not appear to have been 

 planted. Frequent throughout Ireland, but less so in the north and 

 west. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Spring, early Summer. 



Rootstock an ovoid-oblong tuber, descending at the apex, and dying 

 off annually at the base like a corm, producing a few small axillary 

 tubers, which eventually become separate plants, flowering when about 

 the size of a filbert, and rarely exceeding the size of a large walnut. 

 Leaves 3 to 5, all radical, sheathing the base of the stem, the petiole 

 channeled above ; lamina bent back so as to form an obtuse angle with 

 the petiole, 4 to 9 inches long, including the lobes, the latter slightly 

 bent upwards, with their imier margms contiguous and rounded ; their 

 outer margms continuous with those of the rest of the leaf, and their 

 apex terminating in a rather sharp point. Spadix on a scape shorter 

 than the petioles. Spathe 6 to 9 inches long, pale green, frequently 

 edged with, and sometimes spotted with dull purple, contracted below 

 the middle, the lower part loosely roUed round the base of the spachx, 

 and concealing it, the upper part open when the plant is in flower, and 

 at length decaying, leaving the lower portion enveloping the ovaries. 

 Club of the spadix enlarged, naked, dull purple or yellow, cylindrical, 



