4o8 Mr. Cutler's Account of indigenous Vegetables, 



proaching to an ovate form ; open on one side, and bellied out 

 on the opposite ; the margin auriculated at the base, and some- 

 what twisted at the apex. The Spadix within the Spatha. 

 The florets numerous, placed around the receptacle in an oval 

 form ; and are so compact as to appear like a solid body, thick 

 set with small, regular protuberances on its surface. No Calix. 

 Corolla four erect, very thick, narrow, obtruncated petals. 

 Stamina four flattish filaments rising from the receptacle ; 

 longer than the corolla. Antherce oblong. Germen convex. 

 Stile cylindrical ; rather longer than the stamina. Stigma bifid. 

 Seeds large ; roundish ; single ; inclosed within the receptacle. 



The first appearance of this singular plant is the flower. After 

 the flower is arrived to a state of perfection, the leaves appear at 

 a small distance from the flower stalk, in a conic form, very 

 closely rolled together. As they rise they expand ; nearly 

 ovate ; supported on foot stalks. The plant has no stem. 

 The globe of flowers is nearly of the colour of the spatha, 

 which is beautifully variegated with scarlet and yellow. Com- 

 mon in swamps and borders of meadows. April — May. 



This plant, which is found native no where but in North- 

 America, has been considered by botanists as a species of the 

 Arum. But the florets are hermaphrodite, having each of them 

 distinct and perfect corolla, stamina and pistil. It therefore be- 

 longs to the first order of this class, and is to be arranged among 

 the aggregate flowers with a common perianthium. The fruc- 

 tification so essentially differs from all the genera of this order, 

 it must, undoubtedly, be considered as a new genus. The 

 vulgar name, by which it is, here, generally known, is taken 

 from its very rank and disagreeable smell, nearly resembling 

 that of a scunk or polecat. 



The 



