830 ex LI. ARACE.%. 



Sp. PI. (1753) p. 9G5; Eoxb. Fl. Ind. v. 3 (1832) p. 494; Grab. 

 Cat. p. 228. Caladium ovaium, Grab. Cat. p. 229 {not of Vent.). 

 — Vekn. Alu. 



Alocasia indica, Schott, in Oestr. Bot. Wocbenbl. (1854) p. 410. A 

 stout berb ; rootstock suberect, large, 3-8 ft. long, 3-8 in. thick with 

 few soboli. Leaves large, ovate, deeply sagirtately cordate ; lobes 

 rounded, the sinus narrow. Spathe 8-12 in. long, pale yellowish-green. 

 Fl. B. I. V. 0, p. 525; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 13 (1901) 

 p. 428 ; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 1111 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 1, p. 178. 

 Arum indicum, lloxh. Fl. Ind. v. 3 (1832) p. 498; Wight, Icon. t. 794. 



Cultivated in native gardens. The steins and I'ootstocks are eaten. 

 lu Bengal they form an important article of food. 



Alocasia maerorhiza, Schott, in Schott & Endlich. Meletem. (1832) 

 p. 18. A very stout herb ; rootstock suberect, very large, 6-16 ft. long 

 and as thick as a man's arm. Spathe 6-10 in. long, fragrant. A native 

 of Tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Occasionally grown 

 in native gardens. Fl. B. I. v. 6, p. 526; Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. 

 V. 13 (1901) p. 428; Prain, Beng. PI. p. 1111. Alocasia odora, Watt, 

 Diet. Econ. Prod, v. 1, p. 178. 



Alocasia metallka, Hook, in Bot. Mag. (1860) t. 5190 {not of Schott). 

 A slow-growing plant with leaves 12-18 in. long of a rich bronze color 

 on the upper, purple on the lower side, a native of Borneo, often grown 

 in conservatories ; a very ornamental plant. 



Alocasia, Loivii, Hook, in Bot. Mag. (18G3) t. 5376. A very orna- 

 mental plant when well grown, a native of Borneo. Leaves 14-16 in. 

 long, cordate-sagittate, olive-green, with thick white ribs, deep purple 

 beneath. Woodr. Gard. in Ind. ed. 5, p. 532. 



Caladium. The plants of this genus, which contains perhaps 10 true 

 species all natives of South America, have been so hybridized chiefly 

 from Caladium bicolor, Vent., that the florists' varieties liave become very 

 numerous. Bull of Chelsea in a list of Caladiums quoted by Woodrow 

 (Gard. in Ind. ed. 5, p. 535) gives about 90 varieties of Caladium, several 

 of which have been introduced into Indian gardens, where their orna- 

 mental leaves are striking objects between May and October. 



Afithuri^im. Several varieties of this genus have been recently intro- 

 duced into gardens and conservatories. Some of the hybrids are 

 extremely handsome. 



Acorug Calamus, Linn. Sp. PL (1753) p. 324. Rootstock as thick as 

 the middle finger, creeping and branching, very aromatic. Leaves 

 3-0 ft. by 'l l\ in. Cultivated in native gardens and easily established, 

 though not indigenous. Throughout Asia, Europe, and N. America: 

 known as the >Siveet Fhnj in England ; formerly used to strew the floors 

 of apartments. Fl. B. 1. v. 6, p. 555; Grab. Cat. p. 230; Dalz. & 

 Gibs. Suppl. p. 96 ; Trim. Fl. Ceyl. v. 4, p. 365 ; Woodr. in Journ. 

 Bomb. Nat. v. 13 (1901) p. 428; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. v. 1, p. 99. 

 — Veun. Yelcand. 



The root is used medicinally and to keep insects from clothes. 



