XXX. AROIDE^. 837 



phophallus). Flowers 9 and $ numerous, sometimes separated by rudimentary 



organs. Anthers free or rarely coherent, cells larger than the connective. Ovaries 



free, 1-celled, 1-several-ovuled; stigma sessile or sub-sessile; ovules orthotropons 



or very rarely anatropous (^Amorphophallus), pendulous and erect in the same cell. 



Seeds albuminous, or very rarely exalbuminous {Amorphophallus) .■ — Herbs with a usually 



tuberous or thick rhizome. Leaves strongly palmi-pelti-nerved, entire, cordate, hastate, 



sagittate, or palmi-pedati-partite. Spathe coloured, usually violet, glabrous or hairy 



within and foetid. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Arisarum. * Arum. * Dracunculus. * Arissema. Typhonium. 



Pythomum. Biarum. Saui'omatum. * Amorphophallus. 



Section VII. Cetptocoetne^. — Spadix included and jointed to the spathe by 

 its top (Oryptocoryne), or pi'ojecting and free [Stylochwton) . Flowers $ numerous, 

 the lower separated from the S . Anthers sessile or sub-sessile at the top of the 

 spadix. Carpels numerous, whorled around the base of the spadix, and united into 

 a several-celled ovary ; styles as many as carpels ; ovules ascending, orthotropons. 

 Rudimentary organs or indistinct. Seeds albuminous. — Marsh herbs {Oryptocoryne), 

 or growing in sand [Stylo chaeton), rhizome stoloniferous. Leaves sub-1-nerved, or 

 palmi-nerved, entire, lanceolate, emarginate at the base or sagittate. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Oryptocoryne. Stylochseton. LagenRndra. 



Section YIII. Pistiace^. — Spadix adnate to the spathe. Flower ? solitary, 

 separate from the $ flow^i^:- Anthers sessile at the top or side of the spadix. 

 Ovary l-celled, many-ovu]fli'/-'Styles distinct; ovules basilar or sub-lateral, erect, 

 orthotropons. Eudimentary organs 0. Seeds albuminous. — Aquatic floating herbs, 

 stoloniferous, or terrestrial with tuberous rhizome. Leaves entire, several-nerved. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Pistia. Ambrosinia. 



Aroidas, m spite of their polymorphism, form a very homogeneous group ; they have an obvious 

 affinity -with Typhacece and Pandanea ; the former differing in the structure of the anthers, the latter in 

 the conformation of the ftuit. Pistia approaches Lemnacea, the anthers and seeds of which present so 

 close an analogy -with Aroidece that certain authors have placed them in the same family. Lindley, in 

 fact, joins Lemnacece to Pistiacece, which he separates from Aroidecs ; but he equally separates Orontiacets, 

 which he classes (we think wrongly) between Liliacecs and Juncea ; Ormtiacecs are inseparable from 

 true Aroidece, and this affinity is confirmed by an observation of Gasparrini, who has seen monstrous 

 flowers of ArUm iiulioum with a perianth analogous to that of Acorus and Orontium.^ 



The leaves of Aroidea, which are very variable in shape, texture and nervation, recall sometimes 

 Sparganiem {Acorus), sometimes Marantacecs (Aglaonema marantcsfolium), sometimes Stnilacem 

 (Goniurus), sometimes Taccaoea {Dracunculus, Amorphophallus), and sometimes even some Dicotyledons, 

 mAquilarinea {Heteropsis salioifolia), or Cycadea {Zamioczdcas). They are sometimes jointed like those 

 of Oranges {Pothos), or stipulate like those of Piperaoea ; but, with the exception of Anthurium violaceum, 

 which bears some peltate epidermal scales, all known Aroidecs have glabrous leaves. The fruits of 

 some Anthuriums detach from the spadix by a peculiar mechanism, and remain suspended by elongated 

 fibrous cords similar to those which retain the seeds of Magnolia at the moment when the fruit burists. 



