AltlSiEMA. 



ARACEiE. 



239 



CONSPECTUS OF THE GENERA. 



* Spadix surrowided by a spatha. 

 t Flowers monoecious or (sometimes polygamous) ; the sterile above the fertile. 



1. Arissma. Spathe convolute below. Spadix naked above. Flowers without a perianth. Anthers distinct. Ovules 



orthotropous. Berries distinct, 1 - several-seeded. 



2. Peltandra. Spathe elongated, convolute, undulate on the margin. Spadix covered with flowers. Perianth none. 



Anthers 5 - 6-celled ; the cells surrounding a thick peltate connective, opening by a terminal pore. Ovules ana- 

 tropous. Berries distinct, 1 - 2-celled. 



tt Flowers perfect. 



3. Calla. Spathe ovate, expanding. Spadix covered with perfect flowers which are destitute of a perianth. Ovules 



anatropous. Berries distinct, several-seeded. 



4. Symplocarpus. Spathe convolute and cucullate. Spadix on a short peduncle, oval, covered with perfect flowers. 



Perianth of 4 cucullate leaflets. Ovary with a single ovule. Berries united, and immersed in the spongy spadix. 



** Spadix naked. 



5. Orontium. Spadix terminating the scape, covered with perfect flowers. Ovary one-celled. 



6. Acorus. Spadix bursting from the side of a leaf-like scape, covered with perfect flowers. Ovary 2 - 3-ceIled. 



1. ARISiEMA. Mart. " in Flora, 1831, p. 459" ; Endl. gen. 1674. dragon ARUM. 



[Meaning of the name uncertain.] 



Flowers monoecious or polygamous. Spathe convoluted below, the limb arched or flattish. 

 Spadix naked above and sometimes exserted ; the lower part covered with flowers, of which 

 the upper ones are sterile and the lower fertile, or, in some plants, wholly sterile. Perianth 

 wanting. Anthers somewhat verticillate and distinct, with very short filaments, 2 - 4-celled ; 

 the cells opening by a pore or chink. Ovaries 1 -celled, numerous, distinct, turbinate. 

 Ovules 5-6, erect from the base of the ovary, orthotropous : style almost wanting : stigma 

 capitate-peltate. Berry one- to several-seeded. Embryo in the axis of albumen. — Herbs 

 with a tuberous rhizoma or corm, and stalks formed of the united scapes and petioles. 

 Leaves divided. 



1. Aris^ema triphyllum. Indian Turnip. 



Leaves ternately divided ; segments elliplical-ovate ; spadix clavate, obtuse, shorter than 

 the spathe. A. atrorubens, Blume ; Kunth, enum. 3. p. 17. Arum triphyllum, Linn. sp. 2. 

 p. 965 ; Michx. fl. 2. p. 188 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 399 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 629 ; Bot. mag. t. 950 ; 

 Bigel. rned. bot. t. 4, <§• fl. Bost. p. 347 ; Torr. compend. p. 358 ; Bot. cub. t. 320 ; Beck, 

 hot. p. 381 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 530 ; Hook. Jl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 168. A. atrorubens, Ait. 

 Kew. 3. p. 315. 



Corm fleshy, round and flattened, 1-3 inches in diameter, wrinkled ; the upper part 

 covered with scaly shealhs. Leaves mostly two (sometimes solitary), so deeply divided as 

 to appear trifoliate ; the segments 3-8 inches long, variable in breadth, acuminate, sessile : 

 petiole 6-12 inches or more in length; their sheathing petioles surrounding the lower part 



