Peltandra. 



ARACE^E. 



241 



2. PELTANDRA. Raf. in jour, dephys. 89. p. 103; Endl. gen. 1685. ARROW ARUM. 



[From pclte, a target or shield, and aner, an antlier; in allusion to the form of the sterile organs.] 

 Lecontia, W. Coop., not of A. Rich. 



Spathe elongated, convolute, undulate on the margin, curved at the apex. Spadix covered 

 with flowers. Perianth none. Anthers sessile, closely covering all the upper part of the 

 spadix in a tessellated manner, sessile, witli 5-6 cells surrounding the margin of a thick 

 truncate connective, opening by a terminal pore. Ovaries one-celled, clustered on the 

 lower part of the spadix, each containing 5-6 sessile erect anatropous ovules. Berry 

 ovoid, forming a dense greenish cluster, 1 - 3-seeded. Seed obovoid-globose, surrounded 

 with a very tenacious jelly. Embryo in fleshy albumen. — Stemless herbs, with sagittate 

 leaves and green spathcs. 



1. Peltandra Virgimca, Raf I. c. (Plate CXXIV.) Arrow-leaved Arum. 



Kunth, enum. 3. p. 44. P. undulata, Raf. I. c; Kunth, I. c. Arum Virginicum, Linn.sp. 

 2. p. 966 ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 399 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 630. Calla Virginica, Michx. ft. 2. p. 187 ; 

 Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 348. Lecontia Virginica, Torr. compend. p. 358 ; Eat. man. (ed. 6.) 

 p. 200. Caladium Virginicum, Hook. exot. fl. t. 182. Rensselaria Virginica, Beck, hot. 

 p. 382 ; Darlingt.fl. Cest. p. 530. 



Root a tuft of thick fibres. Leaves all radical, 12 - 15 inches long (including the petiole), 

 of a deep and shining green, hastate-sagittate, acuminate ; the lobes at the base more or less 

 spreading and of variable breadth, usually obtuse. Scapes several from one root, about the 

 length of the leaves. Spathe 3-5 inches long, narrow and cylindrical, somewhat fleshy, 

 closely surrounding the spadix, tapering to an acute point; the margin more or less waved; the 

 upper part finally separating, and the lower swelling into an ovoid form by the growth of the 

 fruit. Spadix nearly as long as the spathe, tapering, and covered all over with flowers ; the 

 stamens occupying the greater portion, and presenting a tessellated appearance. Anthers from 

 mutual compression presenting the form of elongated hexagons, peltately attached to the axis, 

 flatly truncate ; the cells ciose to the margin, but imbedded in the substance of the connective. 

 Ovaries numerous. Berries in an ovoid head at the extremity of the finally recurved scape, 

 covered by the persistent base of the spathe, green when ripe. 



Swamps and borders of ponds : common. Fl. June - July. Fr. September. 



3. CALLA. Linn.; L. C. Rich, in Guill. arch. I. p. 15. t. 2.; Endl. gen. 1697. 



WATER ARUM. 



[An ancient name of some plant allied to Arum.] 



Spathe ovate, expanding, persistent. Spadix covered with flowers, which are destitute of a 

 perianth, and consist of pistils surrounded by stamens. Anthers with slender filaments, 

 [Flora — Vol. 2.] 31 



