ee es 
‘ : 
ee 
CP 
Tas. 5190. 
Nation nee eT Pe 
Bronze-leaved Alocasia. 
Nat. Ord. Arorpp#.—Mona@cia MonanDrRIA. 
Gen. Char. Spathe tubus persistens ; lamina cucullato-cymbiformis. Spadix 
appendiculatus, spatha paulo brevior, inferne ovariis (ovaridiisque interdum), 
medio floribus neutris, infra apicem synandriis dense obsitus. Ovaria subastyla 
(an semper?). Stigma depresso-hemisphericum. Synandria breviter stipitata, 
loculis sub vertice aperientibus: Fructus spathe tubo irregulariter disrupto et 
revoluto involucratus. Bacea rotundato-obovata (rubra). Semen depresso-hemi- 
sphericum.—Rhizome plerumque elatum, arborescens, approximato- tenuterque 
cicatrizatum. Folia juvenilis plante peltata, vetustioris sepe ad petiolum usque 
bipartita. Costa et ven utrinque elevato-prominentes. Pedunculi breviusculi 
plures ex una axilla. Spadices suaveolentes !—Indice. Schott. 
Axocasta metallica; acaulis dense cespitosa, foliis longe petiolatis cordato- 
ovatis peltatis subbullatis cuspidatim brevissime acuminatis sepe viridi- 
eeruginosis nitore metallico nitidissimis subtus intense purpureis, scapis 
rubris bracteatis petiolo subduplo brevioribus, spathe lanceolate subcylin- 
draceee dimidio inferiore (seu tubo) oblongo, lamina cucullato-cymbiformi 
Pee sublonge acuminata, ovariis laxiusculis, stylo distincto, stigmate 
3-4-lobo. 
Axocasta metallica. Schott, “C@str. Bot. Wochbl. v. 4. p. 410.” Syn. Aroid. 
v. 1. p. 46. 
In former days plants for horticultural purposes were valued 
in proportion to the beauty of the flowers: now, none are more 
highly prized than those which possess richness of colouring in 
the foliage or some other parts of the plant, whether that colour- 
ing is the normal state or condition, or to be reckoned among 
the freaks and sports of Nature, as is presumed to be the case 
with the now numerous varieties, depending on colour, of the 
well-known Caladium bicolor among Aroidee. The plant we 
have now the gratification of describing and figuring belongs to 
that family of plants, but exhibits a foliage and hue which no- 
thing of the kind can exceed, if it can equal, and to which the 
pencil even of our accomplished artist, Mr. Fitch, can scarcely 
do justice ; for there is a degree of metallic lustre of the leaves 
on the ample foliage which must be seen to be understood; and 
JULY Ist, 1860. 
