OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 35 



Arum Crinitum. 

 HAIRY ARUM, or DRAGON'S MOUTH; Nat. Ord. ARACE.E. 



As may be seen by the illustration (Fig. 17), this is a most sin- 

 gular plant. It proves hardy in this climate if its position is 

 selected ; in other words, it is not hardy in all kinds of soils and 

 situations, but if planted four or five inches deep, in sandy or 

 half decayed vegetable mould, facing the south, there is little to 

 fear either as regards hardiness or its thriving. I think, there- 

 fore, it may be called hardy. It is far more interesting than 

 handsome, but there is at the present time an evident desire 

 amongst amateurs to grow the various Arums, and more espe- 

 cially has this one been sought after ; I have, therefore, intro- 

 duced it amongst more beautiful flowers, and given an enlarged 

 drawing of the entire plant, together with the spathe in its 

 unopened state. 



The plant is a native of Minorca, and was imported in 1777. 

 In this climate it grows to the height of 18in., developing the 

 flower with the foliage. It is produced on a stout scape nearly 

 1ft. high, of a pale green colour, marked with dark short lines 

 and spotted with delicate pink dots. The folded spathe is of 

 leather-like substance, rough, almost corky in texture ; also 

 variously marked and tinted. At the base there are a number 

 of green lines arranged evenly and longitudinally on a nearly 

 white ground. A little higher the belly part the lines are 

 less frequent, irregular, and mixed with pink dots. Still higher, 

 the ground colour becomes pale green, the lines dark green, and 

 the pink spots are changed to clouded tints ; the remainder of 

 the folded spathe to the tip is a mixture of brown and green 

 dots, the total length being fully 9in. "When the spathe opens, 

 it does so quickly, bending more than half its length outwards, 

 the division looking upwards. To those who have not before 

 seen the plant at this stage, it will prove an interesting surprise ; 

 the odour, however, is repulsive. The spathe at its widest part 

 is Gin. broad, and tapers off to a blunt point. It is of a 

 dark purple colour and covered with long bent dark hairs, 

 whence the specific name. They are curiously disposed, and 

 remind one of some hairy animal that has been lifted out of the 

 water the wrong way as regards the direction of the hair. The 

 spadix is comparatively small, black, and also covered with 

 hairs. The flower should be closely watched if its peculiarities 

 are to be fully noted, as it not only opens quickly but soon 

 begins to wither. During the short period that the flower in 

 open the lower part of the spathe or belly becomes filled wits 

 all kinds of flies, being held by the spear-like hairs. 



The leaves have long stalks, marked and tinted in a similar 

 manner to that of the scape. They are curiously formed and 

 twisted, pedate or bird-foot shaped, the outer segments twice 



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