ARUM MACULATUM. 
83 
viewed under a low power. The spatlie is contracted below the middle, 
and on tearing it away from any fully-developed flowers there will 
often be found some small dipterous insects imprisoned at the base, 
some of which are dead, indicating that they have probably been there 
for some time previously, while others are active, and on the destruc¬ 
tion of their prison they fly forth to enjoy their regained liberty. It may 
be asked, How came these insects to be within the spathe? Probably 
attracted by the peculiar fetid odour of the plant, they entered the 
aperture at the top of the spathe in search of food; the downward 
tendency of the hair-like aborted stamens in the topmost cluster would 
facilitate their entrance; but on their endeavouring to escape again by 
the same way they would force the delicate hairs upwards, and so 
close the aperture. Then finding themselves to be prisoners, in their 
ineffectual attempts to escape they would distribute the pollen from 
the perfect stamens on to the stigmas below, so fulfilling nature’s 
purpose in fertilising the ovules. 
The leaves are very acrid, and are sometimes mistaken for Sorrel; 
but their disagreeable effects are soon perceived on their being chewed., 
“ pricking the tongue as nettles do the hands,” says Culpeper, “ and 
so abiding a great while without alteration.” But notwithstanding 
the dangerous property of the herb, according to this quaint old author, 
it possesses many “virtues,” and seems to be truly a most wonderful herb. 
He speaks of its power of curing coughs, boils or any bad sores, weak 
and red eyes, and that troublesome complaint the itch; adding, 
further, that “ the herb is under the dominion of Mars, and, as Tragus 
reports, a dram weight, or more if need be, of the Spotted Wake Robin, 
either fresh, green, or dried, having been eaten and taken, is a present 
and sure remedy for poison and the plague.” 
In Cheshire this Arum is called Gethsemane, because it is said to 
have been growing at the foot of the cross, and to have received on its 
leaves some drops of blood— 
“ Those deep, unwrought marks. 
The villager will tell thee. 
Are the flower’s portion of the atoning blood 
on Calvary shed. 
Beneath the cross it grew.”* 
A farina prepared from the corm or rootstock has been used as 
an article of diet, and has been also employed to adulterate arrowroot. 
The corm contains a considerable amount of starch, and Culpeper 
informs us that “ it was anciently used instead of starch to starch 
linen with.” And hence probably the old name of Starchwort. Con¬ 
cerning the popular name of “ Lords and Ladies,” which appears to be 
the most widely distributed of its many titles. Miss Baker aptly 
remarks, in her “ Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases,” 
+ Vide Thistletou Dyer’s “ English Folk-lore.” 
