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.
GOLDEN CLUB: Orontium aquaticum.
| 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!