530 MONOECIA POLYANDRIA 



Obs. As far as I have observed, the flowers are generally dioicous, both in this 

 and the following species. 



2. A. triphtllum, L. Leaves mostly in pairs, ternate; leaflets 

 elliptic-ovate ; spadix clavate, shorter than the spathe. Beck, Bot. 

 p. 381. 



Three-leaved Arum. Vulgo — Indian Turnep. Wake-robin, 



Root perennial, fibrous, with an orbicular depressed rugose tuber, a: the base of 

 thepetiole8, 1 to 2 or 3 inches in horizontal diameter. Stem 0. Leaves mostly 2 

 (sometimes solitary), ternate ; leaflets *2 or 3 to 6 or 8 inches long, and 1 to 1 or 3 

 inches wide, varying from ovate to subrhomboid and elliptic-lanceolate, acumin- 

 ate, entire, acute at base, sessile, smooth, green (sometimes purple), paler and 

 glaucous beneath, thin and membranaceous when dried ; common petioles 9 to Id 

 inches long, smooth, clasping below, and invested by one or two loose thin mem- 

 branaceous sheaths at base. Scupe 6 to 12 or 15 inches high, the base inclosed in 

 the sheathing petioles: spathe 3 to 5 inches long, the lower half convolute, the 

 upper half a little dilated, flat, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, and cucullately 

 incurved, smooth, green, dark purple, or whitish, spotted, or often variegated 

 with dark purple and yellowish or ochroleucous stripes ; spadix mostly dioicous, 

 bearing numerous sessile stamens, or pistils, around its base, within the spathe,— 

 the summit clavate, obtuse, much shorter than the spathe, but a little exserted 

 from the convolute portion. Berries numerous, In a large ovoid-oblong cluster 

 round the baseof the spadix, smooth, orange-red, or scarlet, when mature. 



Hab. Rich, shaded grounds ; fence-rows, &c. frequent. Fl. May. Fr. Aug— Sept. 

 Obs. I have occasionally seen the leaves of this, instead of being triphyllous, 

 divided into two pairs of large leaflets,— one pair immediately above the other. 

 The tuber (which is a sort of subterranean stem, called a cormus), is extremely 

 acrid; but thai quality is dissipated by boiling, or drying. A kind of Sago has 

 been obtained from it ; and the grated tuber, boiled in milk, is a popular medicine 

 in coughs, and pulmonary consumption. One or two additional species are enu- 

 merated in the U. Slates. 



427. REN3SELAERIA. Beck, Dot. p. 382. 

 [InhonorofS. Van Rensselaer, of N. Y. ; a munificent Patron of Natural Science.] 



Spathe convolute. Spadix covered with flowers, the stamens above, 

 pistils at the base. Perianth 0. Berry 1 -seeded. 



Herbaceous: stemless ; leaves radical, mostly hastate-sagittate; flowers on a 

 spadix. Aa/. Ord. 256. Lindl. Aroidejb. 



1. R. vibginica, Beck. Leaves hastate-sagittate, acute, the lobes 



obtuse; spadix closely embraced by the spathe. Beck, /. c. 



Arum virginicura. Willd. Sp. 4. p. 484. Pers. Syn. 2. p. 574. Ait. 



Keiv. 5. p. 309. Muhl. CataL p. 89. Pursh, Am. 2. p. 399. J^ntt. 



Gen. 2. p. 222. Bart. Phil. 2. p. 181. Ell. Sk. 2. p. 630. Lindl. 



Ency.p. 800. 



Calla virginica. Mx. Am. 2. p. 187. Bigel. Bost. p. 348. 



l,ccontia virginica. Torr. Comp. p. 358. Eat. Man. p. 200. 



Not Lecontea, of Richard, and DC. 



Vuoiiui Rensselaeria. 



Plant smooth, deep green. Root perennial. StemO. Leaves radical, numer- 

 ems, 6 te 12 or IS inches long, and 2 la * or 6 inches wide, •agiuute-obloiiff, acute, 



