THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 
Vol.. X JOLIET, 11,1.., MARCH, 1906. 
OUR NATIVE ARUMS. 
qTHOSE who take rather 
than a bnsines- "ne nice 
and sedges, witli then- 
rate, and look with ni 
lily families, where n 
clear-cut that after < i 
no disquieting aftenl- 
it is not the species ii 
must be sent to the di-L. - 
stay in the house and stutly geometry <'i- 
study the modern Crataegus. It is well i-; 
the minute differences among the pLints — ■'. . - - 
titled t.) our honor and admiration— but for a >.:.vncai i. h- 
day we turn to the plants whose bright hues, pleasant fra- 
grances or strange shapes attract attention and make the 
naming of the specimens easy. 
.\ further attraction attaches to those families that are 
few enough in numbers to warrant the hoi>e that we may 
eventually collect them all. There is great satisfaction in 
completing S(jme department of our knowledge ; in writing 
finis to some si>ecial undertaking. Xo doubt these consider- 
ations have something to do with the interest the beginner 
takes in the Arum family, though the curious shapes of the 
flowers, unparalleled by other plant families of our ac- 
quaintance, may also act as a contributing cause. 
In most of the Northern States this family has the honor 
of furnishing the first spring tiower. Wliile yet the maple- 
