Arum Family. — Araceæ
Skunk Cabbage. Symplocarpus fœtidus.
Found in March or early April, in damp meadows, and moist or swampy woodlands.
The leaves and hooded flower-clusters rise from the ground.
The large and conspicuous leaves, which do not unfold until the flowering season is past, vary from 1 to 2 feet in length; they are oval in shape with a blunt tip and heart-shaped base, have entire margins, firm texture, and smooth surfaces, and resemble the garden Day-Lily because of their many parallel ribs. In color a light clear green.
The unnoticeable 4-parted greenish-yellow flowers are gathered closely on a fleshy round club (that is about an inch in diameter) and enveloped by a protecting hood. This hood is large and sharp-pointed, of a very thick and leathery texture, with a smooth and dull glossy surface; it is a dull brown or mahogany color, mottled or streaked with darker purple or red. From 1 to 3 or 4 of these hood-protected flower-heads are crowded close together, along with the rolled up leaf, in the hold of several dull greenish or slightly purple leaf-like parts which serve as weather blankets wrapped about the whole plant.
After the flowers mature the hood shrivels and falls away, the blankets disappear, and the pointed leaf-bud then unfolds, the leaves pushing forth with fine springing curves. The strong odor of the plant prevents close observation, and denies to it the praise its growth deserves. In habit it is highly gregarious, and favorable meadows are thickly sprinkled with these rich-hued hoods of our earliest spring flower.
Golden Club. Orontium aquaticum.
Found in ponds, or standing water, in early May.
The flower-spike and leaves lie upon the water, or hold themselves just above its surface, springing on long stems from the submerged root.
The oblong, narrow leaf is thick and juicy, with an entire margin, that is conspicuously folded together and joined at the base, and a smooth surface. In color it is a rich-toned green with a bloom above, the under surface being shining and pale and much colored by fine speckles of bronze. The leaf-stem is round, porous, smooth, and bronzy.
The small, flat, indefinite flowers are inset closely upon a round club, in a smooth, curiously patterned mosaic-work of a bright golden-yellow color. This club terminates a smooth porous stem, which becomes large and is flattened on one side beneath the flowers; it is streaked with bronze beneath the water, but clear white above its surface.
“I don’t feel as if I should search for it!” said the farmer when he saw this plant for the first time.
| Green Dragon. | Arisæma Dracontium. |
| Dragon-root. |
Found in moist shade, in May.
The root produces usually one leaf-stem, 1 to 2 feet high, which bears the blossom-stem.
The leaflets of the compound leaf are 5 to 13 in number, in shape oblong, tapering at both ends, and entire; the surface is smooth, and a rich dark green color. The stem is smooth, round, and light green.
The little flowers are borne on the base of a long wand, which projects one or two inches beyond the ensheathing wrapper,—both wand and envelope are green; the stem is round, smooth, and green, and grows from the side of the leaf-stem.
This well-named plant has many marks of the dragon upon it; its solitary leaf spreads, particularly when unfolding, a green claw-like hand above the flowers, and all about the club-shaped root-bulb grow numerous flesh-colored bulblets highly suggestive of his dragon-ship’s toes!
| Jack-in-the-Pulpit. | Arisæma triphyllum. |
| Indian Turnip. |
Found in damp shady nooks, blossoming in May.
The root sends up two or three leaf-bearing stems which vary from 8 to 20 inches in height.
The leaf is compound, and often grows to a considerable size; the 3 leaflets are a broad oval shape, tapering at the tip, the ribs much marked, the fibre fine, and surface smooth; a fall, juicy green. The stem is long, round and smooth, and sheathed at the foot.
The inconspicuous flowers are borne at the base of a green wand, which is wrapped around by a leaf-like sheath, its tip curving over the head of Jack and making the sounding board of his airy green pulpit. This sheath is tougher in texture and more shining than the leaves, and varies in color; on the stamen-bearing plant it is green, striped with greenish-white, while that of the pistil-bearing plant is green, striped with blackish violet. The Jack-in-the-Pulpit is borne on a stout, round, shining stem, which springs from between the sheaths of the leaf-stem.
In late summer the ripened seeds are found, a thick short club of bright red berries; the leaves of the seed-bearing plants often grow very large and are a rich, dark green color. It will be observed that Jack-in-the-Pulpit is “brother to dragons”!
Sweet Flag. Acorus Calamus.
Found in swamps and on the borders of runlets, in flower in June.
The Sweet Flag has no common stalk; the leaves springing directly from the rootstock; long and narrow (from 3 to 4 feet long), sword-like in shape, thin and even on the edge, and rising to a sharply defined ridge on one side of the center; the surface is like silk, and the texture is firm and fine; of a beautiful grass-green color.
The minute greenish-yellow flowers are closely set in a long club-like spike, growing out abruptly from the middle of a leaf-like stalk.
The large root is sought and eaten for its pungent and aromatic flavor; the tender young flower-club also has the same qualities of flavor and is eaten by children, who in certain localities call it “the grater.”