10 
INDIAN TUBNIP. 
anthers, the fertile or fruit-bearing flowers of a 1-cellecl Ovary. 
The fruit, when ripe, is bright scarlet, clustered round the lower 
part of the round fleshy scape. As the berries ripen, the hood 
or sheath withers and shrivels away to admit the ripening rays 
of heat and light to the fruit. 
The root of the Indian Turnip consists of a round, wrinkled, 
fleshy conn, somewhat larger than that of the garden crocus; 
from this rises the simple scape or stem of the plant, which is 
sheathed with the base of the leaves. These are on long naked 
stalks, divided into three ovate pointed leaflets, waved at the edges. 
The juices of the Indian Turnip are hot, acrid, and of a 
poisonous quality, but can be rendered useful and harmless by the 
action of heat; the roots roasted in the fire are no longer poisonous. 
The Indian herbalists use the Indian Turnip in medicine as a 
remedy in violent colic, long experience having taught them in 
what manner to employ this dangerous root. 
The Arum belongs to a natural order, most plants of which 
contain an acrid poison, yet under proper care can be made valu¬ 
able articles of food. Among these we may mention the roots 
of Colocosia mucronotum , Violaceum , and others, which, under the 
more familiar names of Ebdoes and Yams, are in common use 
in tropical countries. 
the juice of Arum triphyllum , our Indian Turnip, has been 
used, boiled in milk, as a remedy for consumption. 
Portland sago is prepared from the larger species, Arum 
maculatum , Spotted Arum. The conn, or root, yields a fine, white, 
starchy powder, similar to Arrow-root, and is prepared much in the 
same way as potato starch. The pulp, after being ground or 
