FLORA OP ST. CROIX AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. 99 



818. Philodendron hederaceum, Scli. 



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



819. Ph. giganteum, Sell. (Prod. Syst. Aroid. p. 261). 



Fl. Marcb-July. Petiole 2'-2i' long; lamina 2i'-3' lon2r,'2' broad. 

 Peduncle l^"-3^" long; spathe ll"-12"long, opening itself only during 

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

 high temi)erature during anthesis. IsTumerous aerial roots, stem l'-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. {Caladimn, Hook.), gives a good representation of the habit 

 of this species.) 



820. Caladium smaragdinum, C. Kocb (Scliott, 1. c. 16.^) (v. Guinea Ginger). 



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

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



821. Xantbosoma atrovirens. C. Koch (v. Scratcli-tliroat). 



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

 Leaves i)ungeut 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. (Aruiu, Valil.) (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 ccciden^alis, Bl. 



Fl. all the year roun<l. 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 species: Caladinm hicolor, Vent., C. inctnm^ DC, and C. 

 irictu ra turn , Linden. ] 



