240 



ARACEiE. 



Aris^ema. 



of the scape, and exceeding it in length. Spathe ovate ; the lower half convolute into a tube ; 

 the upper portion flattened and arched over at the top, dark purple, greenish or variegated ; 

 the petioles and scape having the same color as the spathe. Spadix much shorter than the 

 spathe ; the club-shaped naked portion abruptly contracted into a neck below, a little longer 

 than the tube of the spathe ; the lower part covered with flowers, which in the green spathes 

 are usually sterile, and in the purple or variegated they are fertile or androgynous. Anthers 

 2-4- (and sometimes 5 - 6-) celled ; the cells roundish, opening by a large circular orifice. 

 Often in place of the anthers there are 3-6 depressed purple reniform bodies which open 

 excentricaily, but contain no pollen. Ovaries crowded, tipped with a globose stigma : ovules 

 5-6. Berries forming a dense ovoid head, of a bright scarlet color, smooth and shining. 

 Seed solitary or several, globose, with a large hilum at the base. Embryo in the axis of 

 farinaceous albumen. 



Moist shady places. Fl. May. Fr. August - September. The recent tuber is extremely 

 acrid, so that when applied to the tongue it causes violent pain, and often much swelling ; but 

 in a dry state it is mild, and yields abundance of a nutritious starch resembling sago. Dr. Bige- 

 low has shown that the active principle is a volatile inflammable matter, which is soluble in 

 both water and alcohol (See his med. hot. I. c. ; also Wood <j- B ache's U. S. Dispens. p. 1 14). 



Blume considers the Arum triphyllum of Linnaeus as including two species, one a Brazilian 

 plant, the other ours ; the former he calls Arisama Brasilianum, the latter A. atrorubens. 



2. AiuSiEMA Dracontium, Schott. (Plate CXXIII.) Greendragon. 



Leaf usually solitary, pedate ; the segments lanceolate-oblong, acuminate, entire ; spadix 

 subulate, much longer than the oblong acuminate convolute spathe. — Schott, melet. 1. p. 17, 

 ex Kunth, enum. 3. p. 18, and A. Boscii of the same authors. Arum Dracontium, Linn, 

 sp. 2. p. 964 ; Michx Jl. 2. p. 188 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 399 ; Nutt. gen. 2. p. 222; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 629 ; Bot. reg. t. 668 ; Beck, hot. p. 381 ; Darling t. Jl. Cest. p. 529. 



Corms roundish, often clustered, throwing up bunches of leaves and scapes. Leaf with 

 7-11 segments, which are spreading, 2-6 inches in length and 1-2 inches or more wide, 

 sessile or tapering at the base into short stalks : common petiole 8-15 inches long. 

 Peduncle shorter than the petiole. Spathe 1-2 inches long, greenish. Spadix polygamous, 

 bearing flowers only toward the base ; in some plants wholly sterile, in others androgynous, 

 the fertile below ; the upper part tapering into a slender point, which is exserted 2-4 inches 

 beyond the summit of the spathe. Stamens distinct, with very short filaments, 4-celled. 

 Ovaries numerous, turbinate, with scarcely any style : stigma peltate-capitate : ovules 6-8, 

 bollle-shaped, erect. Ripe berries not examined, but, according to Dr. Darlington, they form 

 an ovoid cluster of a reddish orange when mature. 



Low grounds, particularly along rivers : valley of the Mohawk, etc. Fl. April - May. 

 Fr. September. It is known in some places by the name of Dragon-root. 



