2S0 MONOECIA POLYANDRIA. Arum. 



Stem, upper part raised above the surface of the water, clothed 

 to the top with leaves, less finely cut than those under water ; 

 all whorled. Fl. axillary, pale green, sometimes hermaphro- 

 dite, but lower ones mostly pistil-bearing ; upper, stamen- 

 bearing. Stig. four, short, finely tufted. 



SAGITTA'RIA. Arrow-head. 



S. SagittifSlia. Common u4. Leaves arrow-shaped, 

 tapering to a point. Stalk simple. E. B. 84. Sagitta 

 major et minor. G. E. 416. 



Ditches, ponds, margins of rivers. 



Per. July. 



Stems and footstalks triangular, spongy. FL pistil-bearing, few, 

 forming one or two of the lowermost whorls. Ls. on long foot- 

 stalli^s; those under water linear. FL three in a whorl. Bract. 

 one at the base of each flower oval, spear-shaped. FL white, 

 with a purplish tinge at the claw of the petals, which are very 

 transient. 

 A bulb at the lower part of the root. This a considerable 



article of food among the Chinese, who cultivate the plant. FL 



Suec. 



Very ornamental plant. 



A var. with small Ls: |3. parvifolia. Sb. Dorchester. Sh. Sa- 

 gitta aquatica omnium minima. Ray. 258. 



ARUM. Cuckoo-pint. 



A. maculdtum. Common G. or iVake Robin. Stem 

 none. Leaves halbert-arrow-shaped, entire. Spadix 

 hollow, club-shaped, blunt. E. B. 1298. C. 2.^3. 

 A. vulgare. G. E.~834. 



Groves, bushy places, borders of fields, hedge banks. 

 Per. May. 



Ls. root ones generally spotted with black. Stalk immediately 

 from the root, simple. Sheath erect, large, acute, hollow, pale 

 green, sometimes spotted, enfolding the pillar of fructification, 

 whose summit is cylindrical, blunt, purplish, spongy within : 

 below this several rows of glands tipped with. fl. then a crowded 

 band of purple anthers, below which stand numerous germens. 

 The scarlet spike of berries appears conspicuous in the autumn, 

 without leaves. The root abounds with a mucilage, which aiFords 

 (an acrid, G. E.) starch : the fi-esh root very acrid : mild by dry- 

 ing. The root dried and powdered used by the French to wash 

 the skin, and called Cypress powder ; a good cosmetic. The dried 

 root aifords a wholesome nourishment, like flour. The naked 

 summit of the flower-stalk gives out considerable heat, (R. W.) 



