THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 45 
After all, a spathe is morphologically a leaf, so why should 
it not be green and flat upon occasion ? The spadix, with its 
cluster of flowers, is also edible, and has the same pungent 
flavor as the root, but in lessened degree. The seeds are 
said to be usually defective, as they often are in plants with 
other means of multiplying. 
Rarest and most curious of all its tribe in our region 
is the golden club (Orontium aquaticum). which delights in 
sphagnum bogs and the muddy borders of small lakes, where 
it thrives in several inches of w^ater. It will be recognized 
at first sight by the slender, club-like spadix, green at the 
base, white above, and tipped wnth bright golden yellow. 
In vain one looks for a real spathe. At the base of the club 
is a papery sheath that receives the name, but it plays no 
part in the flower-cluster, as do the spathes of all our other 
arums. The leaves are spoon-shaped and when growing m 
water rest upon its surface. The seeds are edible and are 
said to have been used by the Indians, who boiled them 
much as we do peas. This fact may account for the pecul- 
iar distribution of the plant. It is found usually near the 
sea coast from Massachusetts to Louisiana, but also occurs 
irregularly inland. In these latter situations it is often very 
abundant, and it is conjectured that such places were plant- 
ed by the Indians with an eye to their food value. 
BUDS. 
BY DR. WM. WHITMAN BAILEY. 
TJUDS well illustrate the ignorance of people about com- 
^ mon things. Persons who would look surprised and 
grieved because we confessedly know nothing of the in- 
tegral calculus and have misty ideas of a great many things 
not too evidently ethical that occur in business, will yet ask 
