ARACEAE (ARUM FAMILY) 



33 



ARISAEMA 



Spadix globose, eflveloped by a fleshy ovoid spathe. Flowers 

 monoecious or dioecious and without perianth, covering only the 

 base of the spadix. 



A. triphyllum, Indian Turnip, Jack-in- 

 THE-PuLPiT. Sterile flowers above the fer- 

 tile on the club-shaped spadix. Fruit a 

 i-few-seeded scarlet berry. A perennial 

 herb with a corm. Common in rich woods. 

 Most conspicuous in May. The corm is 

 turnip-shaped, and has intensely acrid juice. 

 The spathe is often dark purple or varie- 

 gated with dark purple and whitish stripes 

 or spots. Leaves usually two, each with 

 three leaflets. 



SYMPLOCARPUS 



AHsaema triphyllum, Jack-in- 

 the-pulpit. 



Spadix globose, enveloped by a fleshy, 

 ovoid spathe. Flowers perfect and peri- 

 anth present. (Symploka, connection; 

 karpos, fruit. The ovaries are coalescent 

 into a compound fruit.) 



■ S. foetidus, Skunk Cabbage. Stamens 4, opposite the sepals. Fruit 



a globular mass, composed of the 

 enlarged and spongy, spadix, en- 

 closing the spherical seeds just 

 beneath the surface. A perennial 

 herb with a strong odor like that 

 of the skunk. A cluster of large, 

 broad leaves preceded in earliest 

 spring by the nearly sessile 

 spathes which barely emerge 

 from the ground. The spathe is 

 spotted and striped with purple 

 1// V \ "Will/' ^y' / and yellowish green. Swampy 



places. 



Symptocarpus foetidus. Skunk Cabbage. 

 Leaf and section of inflorescence. 



SFBIHG FLOEA 3 



ACORUS 



Spadix cylindrical., Spathe 

 not obvious. Flowers perfect. 



