•■JQ'i ABACE.E. [Ariim. 



Order LXXXII. ARACE^, Juss. 



" Flozvers monoecious, numerous, collected upon a spadix, which 

 is generally enclosed within a 1 -leaved spatha ; barren and fertile 

 ones usually on different parts of the spadix, sometimes inter- 

 mingled. Perianth wanting. Stamens usually indefinite. An- 

 thers turned outwards, nearly sessile or on Q.a.t filaments, usually 

 2-celled, sometimes 1-celled, sometimes 4- or many-celled, two or 

 more being united. — Fertile flowers : — Ovary free, with 1 or rarely 

 more cells, sessile, solitary or aggregated. Ovules solitary or 

 several together, erect, horizontal or pendulous. Stigma sessile 

 or nearly so. Fruit succulent. Seeds pulpy. Embryo usually 

 with a contrary direction to the seed, in the axis of fleshy or 

 mealy (rarely without) albumen, straight, with a cleft on its side 

 for the emission of the plumule. Radicle usually at the opposite 

 extremity from the hilum, rarely pointing to it. — Leaves sheathing 

 at the base, convolute in (Estivation, sometimes compound, often cor- 

 date, usually with branching veins." — Br. Fl. 



I. Arum, Linn. Wake Robin. 



" Spatha convolute at the base. Spadix with the fertile flowers 

 at the base. Stamens (sessile) near the middle of the spadix, 

 which is naked above. Ovules 2 — 6 in each carpel, horizontal. 

 Stigma sessile, somewhat eccentric. Berry with 1 cell and 1 or 

 few seeds. Embryo at the opposite extremity of the seed from 

 the hilum." — Br. Fl. 



" How sweet it us'd to be when April first 

 Unclos'd the Arum leaves, and into view 

 lis ear-like flowers their cases burst, 

 Beting'd with yellowish white or lushy hue ; 

 Though manhood now with such has small to do, 

 Yet I remember what delight was mine 

 When on my Sunday walks I us'd to go. 

 Flower-gathering tribes in childish bliss to join ; 

 Peeping and searching hedgerow-side or woods. 

 When thorns stain green with slow unclosing buds. 

 Ah, how delighted, humming on the time 

 Some nameless song or tale, I sought the flowers ; 

 Some rushy dyke to jump, or bank to climb. 

 Ere I obtain'd them ; while from hasty showers 

 Oft under trees we nestled in a ring. 

 Culling our ' Lords and Ladies.' " 



Clare. 



1. A. maculattim, L. Common Wake Robin or Cuckoiv Pint. 

 Lords and Ladies. Vect. Cuckoiv Babies. Stemless, leaves 

 entire more or less hastato-sagittate acute or rounded, their lobes 



