Whence  comes  this  difference?  Because  in  the  spathe  is
frequently  found  imprisoned  another  organ,  the  seat  of  the
mystery  of  reproduction.  This  organ  is  a  fleshy  axis,  on
which  are  arranged  the  flowers  in  two  distinct  rings;  the
upper  is  occupied  by  the  stamens,  reduced  to  simple  anthers
(sessile  stamens) ;  observe  the  filamentous  appendages — they
are  abortive  ovaries.  These  same  appendages  also  surmount
the  lower  ring,  where  several  rows  are  set  of  sessile  ovaries;
each  ovary  composed  of  a  single  lobe,  containing  a  very  small
number  of  ovules,  the  majority  of  which  miscarry  as  the
ovaries  become  metamorphosed  into  bright  red  berries  :  these
are  the  fruits  which  appear  in  autumn ;  they  form  a  spike  or
ear  of  coral,  each  containing,  ordinarily,  a  single  seed.  The
flowers,  as  a  consequence  of  this  separation  of  the  two  sexes,
are  monoecious;  the  succulent  axis  which  bears  them  is  called


FOOD  IN  THE  FOREST.  163

a  spadix.*  On  tearing  open  the  spathe,  our  glance  first  rests
upon  the  apex  of  the  spadix,  which  has  a  club-like  form,  and
is  of  a  beautiful  violet-red  colour.  The  two  rings  of  sexual
organs  have  much  less  attraction  for  the  profane ;  the  lower
ring,  loaded  with  female  flowers,  is  more  prominent  than  the
upper  ring,  which  bears  the  male  flowers.
