98 



it is this one, although other species will probably be found 

 in the course of time that may receive the name of white 

 amlong with equal merit. Botanically the main difference 

 between the genera Epipremnum and Raphidophora is not 

 in the shape of the leaves, but in the structure of the 

 flowers. 



BROWN AMIiONG. 



{Raphidophora copelandii.) 

 (Bengiiet, Davao, Mindoro.) 



This species and Raphidophora merrillii appear at first 

 sight to have leaves of similar form. However, a closer 

 inspection of the segments and venation of the leaves reveals 

 marked differences. 



The young leaves of both this species and of R. merrillii 

 are very different from their adult form. When young, 

 the leaves are entire and continue to be so for quite a while ; 

 finally they become indented and assume a shape charac- 

 teristic of many aroid leaves. 



In R. copelandii the air roots occur near the axils of the 

 leaves, while in R. merrillii the air roots are found on the 

 lower part of the stem; the leaf of R. copelandii is also 

 thinner than that of R. merrillii. 



When an air root of the brown amlong plant is first 

 stripped of its central cylinder, the latter is white in color 

 but soon changes to brown on exposure to air. The color 

 may be improved somewhat — that is, made lighter — by rub- 

 bing it soon after exposure with wet sand and drying it 

 in the sun. 



This brown amlong may be whitened by putting it in 

 a solution of sodium peroxide. This solution is made up 

 in the proportion of 2 tablespoonfuls of peroxide to 10 to 

 15 liters of water. It is best to keep this mixture in a 

 glass vessel. The amlong is allowed to stay in the solution 

 for twenty-four hours and it is then washed in clear, fresh 

 water and hung out to dry in the sun for a day. This 

 procedure is repeated three to four times, each time with 

 a fresh solution of the peroxide. 



