XXX. AEOIDE^. 835 



naked space, or by rudimentary ovaries, or by staminodes which sometimes succeed 

 the $ flowers, and clothe the top of the spadix. Perianth 0, or (in the 5 flowers) 

 4-5-6-8-phyllous, or 5-8-fid. Stamens numerous, free or variously coherent ; fila- 

 ments short or obsolete ; anthers extrorse, 2-celled, opening either by a longitudinal 

 or transverse slit, or by an apical or sub-apical pore ; pollen-grains sometimes agglu- 

 tinated. Ovaries generally aggregated, distinct or coherent, 1-celled, or 2-3-4- 

 many-celled by prolongation of the parietal placentas, furnished internally with 

 hairs that secrete an abundant mucilage ; styles or simple ; stigma capitate or 

 discoid, undivided or sometimes lobed {Asterostigma) ; ovules solitary or more or less 

 numerous, basilar parietal or apical, erect, ascending, sub-horizontal or pendulous, 

 orthotropous or campylotropous, rarely anatropous and with external raphe {Amor- 

 phophallus variabilis). Fruit an indehiscent berry, 1-several- celled, 1-many-seeded. 

 Seeds sub-globose, oblong or angular; testa coriaceous, thick; albumen farinaceous 

 or fleshy, copious, disappearing at germination, or rarely (Symplocarpus). Embryo 

 white or green, axile, turbinate or cylindric, or sometimes slightly angular (Acorus), 

 or very rarely curved (Gyrtosperma) . 



Tribe I. CALLAGEJE. 



Flowers ^ , ov $ and $ on the same spadix, achlaraydeous or not. 



Sectioit I. AcOROiDEJE.— Spathe leaf-like, adnate to the peduncle. Flowers g , 

 covering the spadix. Perianth 4- 6-phy lions. Stamens as many as, and opposite to 

 the sepals. Ovaries 1-3-cel led ; ovules pendulous, orthotropous. Seeds albuminous. 

 — Herbs, usually containuJ^^^ aromatic oil {Acarus), rhizome jointed. Leaves 

 ensiform, equitant, sheathi^^^^ernation. 



'PpEINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Acorus. Gymnostachya. 



Sbotion II. Orontiace^. — Spathe persistent, herbaceous, or sometimes 

 coloured {Dracontium, Symplocarpus), rarely {Orontium). Spadix covered with g 

 flowers. Perianth 4-5-6-8-phyllous, or sometimes 5-8-fid (Dracontium). Stamens 

 as many as, and opposite to the perianth-lobes. Ovaries 1-few-celled ; style usually 0, 

 rarely subulate -elongate {Dracontium), or tetragonal -pyramidal (Symplocarpus) ; 

 ovules sometimes basilar and campylotropous (Pothos), or horizontal and semi-anatro- 

 pous {Orontium), sometimes pendent and anatropous (Anthurium) , or campylotropous 

 (Cyrtosperma, Lasia) . Seed usually exalbuminous. — Herbs, rarely aquatic (Orontium), 

 stemless or caulescent, and Often sarmentose or climbifig (Pothos, Anthurium). 

 Leaves alternate, sometimes jointed (Pothos, &c.), simple, entire {Orontium, Symplo- 

 carpus, Pothos), or pinnatisect (Lasia), or palmisect (Anthurium), or pedate (Dracon- 

 tium). Stipwlary sheaths adnate to the petiole, or opposite to the leaves, sometimes 

 alternating with the petiole (Anthurium). Spathe longer or shorter than the 



spadix. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



' Si-athipliyllura. 



