FLORA OP ST. CROIX AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. 99 



818. Philodendron hederaceiim, Sch. 



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



819. Ph. giganteum, St-li. (Prod. Syst. Aroid. p.2Gl). 



Fl. Marcli-,7uly. Petiole 2'-2.V lonji'; lamina 2^-3' lonijr, 2' broad. 

 Peduncle l^"-3h" long; spatlie ll"-12"long, opening itself only dnring 

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

 high temperature during anthesis. I^Tumerous ai'rial root.s, 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. fragrantisfii- 

 mum, Kth. {Caladlum, Hook.), gives a good representation of the habit 

 of this species.) 



820. Csladium smaragdinum, C. KocL (Scliott, 1. c. IG.")) (v. Guinea Ciiiger). 



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

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



821. Xanthosoma atrovirens. C. Kocli (v. Scratch-throat). 



Xot seen flowering. Rhizome large, tuberous, used as a vegetable. 

 Leaves imngeut when eaten as spinach. Cultivated and naturalized on 

 X)rovision grounds. — St. Croix ; St. Tliomas. 



822. X. Skagit', eefolium, Sell. (v. Taiiier). 



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

 Spathe disclosing it.self 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 tubenms 

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

 vision grounds. — All ishuxls. 



823. X. ? hastatum, Egg. (Arniu, Vahl.) (v. Iiuliau Kale). 



Not seen flowering. Leaves hastate, with long pointed obliquebasilav 

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

 in forests. — All i.slands. 



824. Pistia ccciden'alis, lil. 



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

 Thomas. 



825. Lemna minor, Tj. 



Not seen liowerijig. In livuh't.s, not uncommon. — St. Croix (Jealousy 

 Gut, I^air Plain Gul). 



[Cultivated species: Caladinm hicolor, Vent., C. pictum, DC, and C. 

 pictaratum, Linden.] 



