AROIDE.E. 131 



Thwaites considors A. orixenne as identical with the Liiincan ])lant. The roots 

 are very acrid, and applied in poultices as a counter-irritant, and also to destroy 

 maggots in the sores of cattle. 



AjioitpnopnALLUs, Illume. 



Spatlie of Arum. S/iadix continuouslj- andro<;Tnous without barren organs, and 

 ending in an appendix, sonictinics very large. Anthers sessile, 2-celled. Oriiries dis- 

 tinct, 2-, 3- or rarely 4-cclled, with 1 erect ovule in each cell. Leares divided into 

 3 segments, which are again once or twice pinnately divided. Spadix often livid 

 purple, and veiy foetid. 



*A. CA5IPANULATUS, Roxb. (il.). Cultivated. 



Weh. Telinga potato. 



Cultivated for its roots, which are cooked like yams, and liighly esteemed, 

 weighing each from four to eight pounds. In a good soil the yield is as much as 

 250 maunds (lbs. 20,000) to a Bigah. 



Section colocasixjj:. 

 Spadix free, terminated by a naked and sterile appendage (Colocania, etc.) or 

 without appendage {Caladium, etc.). Flowers male and female, numerous, usually 

 separated by rudimentary organs. Herbs with tuberous rhizomes, stemless or 

 caulescent, sometimes climbing. Spafhe usually sweet-scented. 



COLOCASIA, Buy. 



Spaflie and spadix as in Arum. Sfawfiis united, several together, in short 

 truncate or peltate masses, with the anthers laterally adnata. Oiaries 1-celkd or 

 partially 3-celled, with several ovules. Leaves usually large and glaucous, cordate 

 and sometimes peltate. Spadix usually sweet-scented. 



* C. AXTiQCOErir, Schott. Cultivated in Burma and the Kicobars (K.). 



Peing. 



C. viROSA, Kth. Kamorta (K.). 



C. ixDicA, Yoigt (IT.). 



Sit-tung. 



C. ODOEA, Yoigt (M.). 



Peing-ma-haw-ya. 



Of this plant Dr. Mason remarks : "This is a most singular plant. It has a 

 stem 1 or 2 feet high and 6 inches in diameter, resembling a low palm, while 

 its leaves are like gigantic cabbage leaves 3 or 4 feet long, by 2 or 3 wide. The 

 flowers are said to be fragrant. The natives do not cultivate it for food, like tlie other 

 species of Arum, liut, as they say, fur medicine." In addition to the above sjiecies of 

 this family. Dr. Mason gives the names of several others, some of which, it may be 

 presumed, are cultivated varieties of Coloiasia, which in India has several names in the 

 vernacular. They are as follows; — Koung-gen-peing, Pan-nai-nat, "Wel-kyouk-peing, 

 Pcing-kyan, Peing-ung, Peing-kyoung-khyae, I'eing-shau, and P(ing-]ian-htwrin. 

 The roots of Coloeasia arc much used as food, but are little esteemed by Eurojieans. 

 The best way of cooking them is to lioil them tirst, and then bake them, when the 

 superior varieties would probably be found (especially where potatoes are unpro- 

 curable) more deserving of notice than they are generally thought. 



Section AX-VPORIXE^E. 



Spadix free [Aglaonema) or adnatc to the spathe {Spathicarpa), rarely ending in a 

 sterile appendage {I'inellia). Flowers female and male contiguous, the female usually 

 mingled with staminodes. Herbs with knotted rhizome, stemless, or caulescent. 



Agi.ao.nema. 

 A. sijiPLKx, Bl. Katchall and Kamorta (K.). 



