FLORA OF ST. CROIX AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. 99 



818. Philodendron hederaceum, Sch. 



Fl. Aug. On trees in dense forests, rare. St. Thomas (Crown, 1400'). 



819. Ph. giganteum, Sch. (Prod. Syat. Aroid. p. 261). 



Fl. March- July. Petiole 2'-2J' long; lamina 2.V-3' long, 2' broad. 

 Peduncle 1^"S^" long; spatlie lP'-l^" long, opening itself only during 

 two nights. Spadix white, giving out a strong odour and considerable 

 high temperature during anthesis. Numerous aerial roots, stem V-2* 

 long. Among rocks in dense forests on high hills, gregarious on trees. 

 St. Thomas (Signal Hill and Crown, 1500'). 



(The picture in Bot. Mag. t. 3314, of the much smaller Ph. fragrantissi- 

 mum, Kth. (Caladium, Hook.), gives a good representation of the habit 

 of this species.) 



820. Caladium smaragdinum, C. Koch (Schott, 1. c. 165) (v. Guinea Ginger). 



Fl. May-July. Ehizome tuberous, yellow. In pastures on high hills, 

 not uncommon. St. Thomas (Signal Hill, above St. Peter, 1400'). 



821. Xanthoscma atrovirens, C. Koch (v. Scratch-throat). 



Not seen flowering. Ehizome large, tuberous, used as a vegetable. 

 Leaves pungent when eaten as spinach. Cultivated and naturalized on 

 provision grounds. St. Croix ; St. Thomas. 



822. X. sagittaefolium, Sch. (v. Tanier). 



Fl. July. Lamina of the spathe white, with a delicate rosy tinge. 

 Spathe disclosing itself during two nights from 7 to 10 o'clock ; spadix 

 meanwhile giving forth a strong fragrance and showing a temperature 

 of 12 C. above that of the air. Leaves used as spinach and the tuberous 

 rhizome as a common vegetable. Cultivated and naturalized on pro- 

 vision grounds. All islands. 



823. X. ? hastatum, Egg. (Arum, Vahl.) (v. Indian Kale). 



Not seen flowering. Leaves hastate, with long pointed oblique basilar 

 lobes; used for spinach. (Naturalized'?) Cultivated and spontaneous 

 in forests. All islands. 



824. Pistia occidentalis, Bl. 



Fl. all the year round. Cultivated and naturalized in gardens. St. 

 Thomas. 



825. Lemna minor, L. 



Not seen flowering. In rivulets, not uncommon. St. Croix (Jealousy 

 Gut, Fair Plain Gut). 



[Cultivated sj^ecies: Caladium bicolor. Vent., C. pictum, DC, and C. 

 picturatum, Linden.] 



