THE BULB BOOK 



CALADIUM 



period of growth in the spring and 

 summer months likes plenty of water 

 and free syringings. Grown in bold 

 masses, B. nitida is effective when 

 in blossom. It requires a rest in 

 winter, and may be increased by 

 division of the creeping root-stocks in 

 spring. 



BUTOMUS {hous, an ox ; temno, to 

 cut ; in reference to the acrid juice 

 causing the mouth to bleed). Nat. 

 Ord. Alisraacese. — This genus is re- 

 presented by — 



B. uinbellatus, the "Flowering 

 Rush." — A beautiful marsh plant, 

 having creeping root-stocks and 

 three-sided leaves 3 to 4 ft. long, 

 sheathing at the base. The um- 

 bels of rosy-lilac blossoms about 

 1 in. across appear in June and 

 July, and consist of six oblong 

 segments, nine stamens, and six 

 beaked reddish carpels in the 

 centre. 



The Flowering Rush flourishes 

 on the margins of lakes, streams, 

 or rivers in muddy soil, but re- 

 quires open, sunny places to come 

 to perfection. It may be increased 

 by division of the root-stocks in 

 spring; or may be raised from 

 seed. 



CALADIUM (perhaps from hila- 

 dion, a cup, in reference to the 

 spathes ; or kalos, beautiful, referring 

 to the leaves). Nat. Ord. AroidejE. — 

 A genus of popular garden plants, all 

 natives of Tropical America north 

 of the Equator. Gustav Wallis, the 

 great plant collector, has reported that 

 the forests along the lower Amazon 

 are covered for miles and miles with 

 Caladiums during the rainy season. 

 They have tuberous root-stocks, and 

 long-stalked, peltate, oblong, or sagit- 

 tate or arrow-shaped leaves of a 

 more or less membranous texture, 



and often beautifully coloured and 

 veined. The flowers are borne on 

 spadices within spathes, but are of 

 no particular beauty. 



Caladiums are still highly valued 

 as decorative plants wherever an 

 interest is taken in hothouse subjects. 

 There is a general resemblance in 

 the appearance and shape of the 

 leaves of the numerous varieties in 

 cultivation (said to be about two 

 thousand), but there is great varia- 

 tion in size and colouring. The 

 leaf-blades of some varieties are only 

 a few inches long, but in others they 



Fia. 8-2.— Caladium, root-stock and roots. 



are as much as 18 ins. or more. The 

 colouring also ranges from almost a 

 pure white and pellucid tissue to 

 deep crimson, purple, bronze, etc., 

 while many forms are beautifully 

 mottled, or blotched with colours 

 quite distinct from the ground 

 colour. 



Provided plenty of heat and 

 moisture are available, there is no 

 great difficulty in growing Caladiums ; 

 and yet to produce really fine speci- 

 mens is an act that can only be 

 acquired by experience and intelligent 



121 



