g2 PLANTS OF BERMUDA. 



The Natural Order Araccff is distinguished from Pahnaceft by not 

 having its flowers surrounded by a perianth, but crowded on a 

 fleshyT unbranched spadix, and enveloped in a large, frequently- 

 coloured spathc. 



Tlie coiumon Avhitc Arum fCalla uFAhiopieaJ, frequently, but 

 wrou'dy, called a Lily, is a fair representative of the order; the im- 

 perfect flowers are clustered around the hidden base of the spadix, 

 which rises as a yellow cylindrical rod, around which the large 

 milk-white spatlic is loosely rolled in the form of a funnel. A sin- 

 gular species, v.'itli a purplish-bhick spathe, was brought from 

 Palestine by Mr. Kcid and cultivated at Pembroke Hall, where it 

 attracted much attention. 



The Bleeding-heart fCalmlium hkolorj is more frequent!)'" seen as 

 a window plant ; the heart-shaped leaves are blood-red in the cen- 

 tre. Other species with variously spotted leaves are also common. 



The Eddoe or Coco (Colocasia csculentaj is occasionall)'' cultivated 

 in marshy ground for the sake of its edible tubers ; it is a stemless 

 plant -with fleshy petioles and large heart-shaped leaves. 



The Duck-weed (Lemna minor), which forms a green layer, float- 

 ing on stagnant pools, belongs to the closely -allied order of Lc»i- 

 nacc<r ; it has no distinguishable stem and leaf, but consists of an 

 oval, leaf -like frond, from the under surface of which roots hang 

 down into the water, and which bears the minute flowers in a cleft 

 in its margin. 



The AVest India Yam (Dioscorea mtivaj has been locally intro- 

 duced, but is not cultivated as an article of food. 



The true f^arsaparilla is commonlj' supposed to be plentiful in 

 Bermuda, and to be endowed with special virtues ; the plant, how- 

 ever, which is grown, used, and sold under that name is in no way 

 related to the Smia.r, but invariably consists of the stem, leaves and 

 fruit of the Virginian Creeper (Ampdopsis qai/iqiufoliaj . How such 

 an error originated J cannot tell, as the vines are very dissimilar, 

 and the true Smilax lias entire heart-shaped leaves. 1 understand 

 that the latter is to be seen 



Nat : Onl : G6. Typhai'e(C. 



Tall aquatic plants vnth narrow, entire leav(is ; flowers without a 

 perianth, l)ut with a few scales at base arranged in dense cylindrical 

 heads or spikes ; stamens with long, slender, united filaments ; 

 ovary one -seeded. ^ 



I. TYPHA. 



1. T. otniKstifolid (Cat-tail). Stem slender, erect, three to live 

 feet high, leafy at the base ; leaves erect, three feet long, about 

 half an inch wide ; spikes cylindrical, terminal, the upper portion 

 consisting of stamens only, and a little separated from the lower 

 female portion. Distribution, Europe and North America ; habitat, 

 ponds, comiuou. The brown furry spike;? are produced in June. 



