sturtevant's notes on edible plants 125 



plants in the world, a fact attested by its presence in ancient tombs. Schweinfurth states 

 that it is foiind in Egyptian tombs of the twelfth dynasty (2200-2400 B. C.) ' 



Cakile maritima Scop. Cruciferae. sea rocket. 



Europe, Korthem Africa and North America. Kakn ^ says the sea rocket furnishes 

 a root in Canada which is pounded, mixed with flour and eaten, when there is a scarcity 

 of bread. 



Caladium bicolor Vent. Aroideae. 



South America. The corms are eaten roasted or boiled.' The leaves are eaten, boiled 

 as a vegetable, in the West Indies.* 



Calamus rotang Linn. Palmae. rattan cane. 



East Indies. Thtinberg * saw the fruit of the rattan exposed for sale in Batavia. 

 When ripe this fruit is roundish, as large as a hazelnut and is covered with small, shining 

 scales, laid like shingles, one upon the other. The natives generally suck out the subacid 

 pulp which surrounds the kernel by way of quenching their thirst. Sometimes the fruit 

 is pickled with salt and eaten at tea-time. This palm furnishes rattan canes. 



Calathea allouia Lindl. Scitantineae. 



Guiana. This species is cultivated in the West Indies and, according to Lindley,' 

 furnishes one of the arrowroots of commerce. 



Calendula officinalis Linn. Compositae. goldins golds, pot marigold. 



Southern Europe. This marigold was cultivated in England prior to 1573. The 

 petals of the flowers are occasionally 'used in broths and soups in Britain and Holland 

 and are also used for coloring butter.' In 1806, it was included in McMahon's ' Hst of 

 aromatic, pot and sweet herbs of American gardens. There are a number of ornamental 

 varieties, and the species is to be found in many of our country gardens. The plant is 

 described in nearly all of the early herbals and is mentioned by Albertus Magnus in the 

 thirteenth century. 



Calla palustris Linn. Aroideae. water arum, water dragon. 



Europe, Northern Asia and North America. The rootstocks of this plant yield eatable 

 starch, prepared by drying and grinding them and then heating the powder until the acrid 

 properties are dissipated.' 



^Nature 19:315. 1884. 



'Kalm, P. Trav. TVo. ^mer. 2:345. 1772. {Bunias cakile) 



Henfrey, A. Bo/. 371. 1870. 



* Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. i:igo. 1870. {C. sagittaefoUum) 

 Thunberg, C. P. Trav. 2:277. 1796. 



Lindley, J. Veg. King. 169. 1846. (Maranta allouia) 

 ' Loudon, J. C. Enc. Pis. 741. 1855. 



'McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cal. 583. 1806. 

 Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 1:194. 1870. 



