32 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



ARUM. 



CALLA ^THIOPICA. 



AROIDEiE. GYNANDRIA POLYANDRIA, 



The ^Ethiopian species of this flower, commonly called 

 the horn-flower, is the only one deserving of a place in 

 the garden. Many Arums of the botanists are very useful 

 as medicine, food, &c. and the leaves of the esculent Arum 

 serve the inhabitants of the South-Sea islands for plates 

 and dishes : but they are very little ornamental ; and the 

 few which are handsome have so powerful and disagree- 

 able a scent as deservedly to banish them from most of 

 our gardens. 



This species, however, is exquisitely beautiful, and not 

 only inoffensive in odour, but e^en agreeable. The leaves 

 are large and glossy. It has a large white flower, folded 

 with a careless elegance into the shape of a cup or bell, 

 with a bright golden rod (called the spadix) in the centre. 

 Placed by the side of the dark red peony, the effect is 

 truly splendid : the contrast makes both doubly magni- 

 ficent. A heathen might have supposed these fine flowers 

 created on purpose to grace the bosom of the stately 

 Juno. By the side of the rose, too, or the large double 

 tulip, or some of the finer kinds of marygold, it has a 

 noble appearance; and no flower is more deserving of 

 care in the cultivation. In summer, the Arum should be 

 allowed a liberal draught of water every evening; but, 

 being a succulent plant, should be watered only at the 

 roots. It flowers in May, and may stand abroad until the 

 end of October: it should then be housed, and, during 

 the winter, should be watered but once a week. It retains 

 its leaves all the year: new ones displacing the old as 



