AHUM FAMILY. 



dicecicns by abortion. Spadix naked and elongated above. Floral m- 

 velopes none. Stamixate Fl. of whorls of 4 or more stamens ; filaments 

 very short ; anthers 2-4 celled. Pistillate Fl. consisting of a 1-celied 

 ovary with a depressed sf/gmcr, containing 5-6 straight ovules, erect 

 from the base of the cell. Fruit 1 - few-seeded ; seeds subglobose, albu- 

 minous. Perennial herbs with a tuberous rhizoma ; leaves dissected; 

 petioles elongated ; spadix on a scape ; berries orange-red. 



1. A, triphyrinm, Torr. Leaves mostly in pairs, ternately divided, — 

 the segments elliptic-ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, entire, sessile ; 

 spadix clavate, obtuse, shorter than the spathe. 



Three-leaved Aeis^ma. Indian Turnip. 



Root perennial, consisting of numerous fibres proceeding from the base of an orbicular 

 depressed rugose cormus, or subterranean stem. Aerial stem none. Leaves mostly 2 

 (sometimes solitary) , ternate ; the leaflets or segments 2 or 3 - 6 or 8 inches long, smooth, 

 green or often purplish, thin and membranaceous, or almost scarious, when dried ; com- 

 mon petioles 9-18 inches long, inserted on the cormus, and embracing the central scape 

 at base. *S'cape 6 - 15 inches high, situate between the leaves, the base inclosed by the 

 sheathing petioles. Spaihe3-bmch.es long, — the lower half convolute, the upper'half 

 (or hmb) a Lttle dilated, flat, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, and cucullately incurved, often 

 variegated with dark-purple and yellowish stripes and spots. Spadix mostly unisexual, 

 with the summit clavate, naked and smooth, much shorter than the spathe, but a little ex- 

 serted from the convolute portion. Berries numerous, in a dense oblong cluster around 

 the base of the spadix, orange-red or scarlet when mature. 



Rich shaded grounds : throughout the United States. J'Z. May. io\ August -Septem- 

 ber. 



Obs. The turnip-like subterranean stem (designated by the name of 

 Cormus), is highly acrid in its fresh or green state ; but that quality is 

 dissipated, in a great measure, by boiling or drying. The recent tuber, 

 grated and boiled in milk, is a popular medicine in coughs and pulmonary 

 consumption. It is said to yield a starch equal in quality to that from 

 the potato, and a substance called Portland Arrowroot, or Portland Sago, 

 is prepared from it in some parts of England. A plant nearly allied to 

 this, called " Tanyer" — (the Tallo, or Tarro, of the New Zealanders), is 

 said to be cultivated, occasionally, in the gardens of the Southern States, 

 for the sake of the cormus, or tuberous rhizoma, — which is used at the 

 table as a substitute for the potato or yam. 



2. SYMPLOCAR PUS, Salish. Skunk Cabbage. 



[Greek, Syniploke, connexion, and Karpos, fruit ; descriptive of the plant.] 



Flowers with floral envelopes, perfect. Spathe conch-shaped, acuminate. 

 Spadix pedunculate, oval, or subglobose, densely covered with flowers. 

 Sepals 4, persistent, becoming fleshy or baccate. Stamens 4, opposite 

 the sepals ; filaments linear, flattened, included ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary 

 1-celled ; ovule single ; style 4-sided, tapering to a minute terminal 

 stigma. Berries coalescing, 1-celled, 1-seeded. Seed destitute of al- 

 bumen. 



1. S. foe'tidus, Salisb. Stemless ; leaves cordate-oval, enlarging ; spadix 

 oval. 



15-^- 



