NAT. ORDER. — AROIDE^. 157 



plant, now very generally to be met with in little domestic selections. 

 The whole family of these plants are natives of tropical countries, where 

 they are found abundantly, but of temperate climates rarely, not ex- 

 tendingf in Europe further north tlinn 64 ° north latitude, in the form 

 of Callas, which inhabit the muddy, frozen marslies of South Lapland. 

 In cold or temperate climates they are usually herbaceous, while in 

 tropical countries they are often aborescent and of considerable size, 

 frequently clinging to trees by means of their serial roots, which they 

 protrude in abundance. In America their principal station is on the 

 submontane region between 1200 and 3G00 feet of elevation, where 

 the climate is temperate, and the rains abundant. In the Andes, Polhos 

 pedatus and Pothos quinquenervius, two of the species, grow on a 

 height of 8400 feet. 



Propagation and Cidlurc. This plant is readily increased by 

 offsets from the root, whicli should be separated in the autumn, and 

 planted out singly in pots of light earth, where they will grow and be- 

 come full plants the following year. The plants may be kept in the 

 open air during the summer, but during the winter they should have 

 the protection of the green-house or a garden frame. These plants, 

 from the singularity of their growth, and their being constantly furnish- 

 ed with leaves, have an agreeable effect, and produce much variety 

 among other potted plants. 



Medical ProjKrlics and Uses. A principle of acridity generally 

 pervades this whole tribe, and exists in so high a degree in some of 

 them, as to render them dangerous poisons. The most remarkable is 

 the Caladiimi scqiiimnn, one of its species, and a native of the West 

 Indies and South America, growing to the height of a man ; this plant 

 has the power when chewed of swelling the tongne and destroying 

 the power of speech. Dr. Hooker relates an account of a gardener 

 who incautiously bit a piece of the dumb cane, when his tongue swell- 

 ed to such a degree that he could not move it ; he became utterly in- 

 capable of speaking, and was confined to the house for some days in 

 the utmost excruciating toi-ments. 



