ARACE^-ARUM FAMILY 



A peculiar inflorescence marks all the Arums. The flowers 

 are borne on a terminal fleshy axis called a spadix, carefully 

 wrapped about by an enfolding bract called a spathe. This spathe 

 is usually large, sometimes beautiful, and always protective to 

 the buds. The individual flowers consist of stamens, or of pistils, 

 or of both, and frequently are absolutely destitute of calyx and 

 corolla; sometimes these are present in the form of a few scales. 

 The roots are tuberous. The most familiar example of the family 

 in cultivation is the Calla Lily; the best-known wild. species are 

 Jack-in-the-Pulpit and. the Skunk Cabbage. 



CALLA LILY. LILY-OF-THE-NILE 



Richdrdia africhna. 

 Bichardia, in honor of L. C. Richard, a, French botanist; 1754-1821. 



The familiar Calla of Easter decorations; grown at the North only 

 in greenhouses, as a window plant, or partly submerged in aquariums. 

 Southern Africa. 



Root. — A thick rhizome, perennial. 



Leaves. — Radical, variable; blade about twice as long as wide, cordate- 

 sagittate at base, cuspidate at apex; petioles long, stout, sheathing at 

 the base. 



Flowers. — Monoecious, both staminate and pistillate borne on a spadix 

 at the summit of a scape, and wrapped about by a large white bract 

 called a spathe; the pistillate flowers at the base of the spadix and the 

 staminate above; there is neither calyx nor corolla. 



The spathe is broad, spreading above, convolute at base around the 

 slender cylindrical spadix, which is densely covered above with yellow 

 stamens; below with ovaries, each imperfectly three-celled. 



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