XANTHOSOMA 



XANTHOSdMA (Greek, yellow body, referring to 



the stifjiun). Ariicew. This genus is interesting to the 

 horticulturist as containing the hanrisome variegated 

 foliage phmt known to the trade as Phijllofwuitim 



XANTHOXYLUM 



1995 



sagittate -ovate, suddenly and shortly acute at apex, 

 basal lobes obtuse: spathe large, with a creamy white 

 limb. Tropical Amer. B.M. 4989. — In northern hot- 

 ■ 1 to bloom in winter. 



Linde 



of the 



lies 



known as "Malangii." a crop to which two 

 per cent of the aralilp l.iiiil in Porto Rico 

 is devoted. Mmiiv sp, .ics ..f the arum 

 family are nott-.l ]'"r tin ii- liii;,'c tubers, 

 some of which :irr , ilihli '^ilii r the acrid 



and more or less ]M.i~,.i ^ iiicpfrties are 



dispersed by the expression of the juice, 

 or by its dissipation through heat" (B. 

 M. 4989). Of this class the best known 

 is the Elephant's Ear, or Colocasia es- 

 cidenta. The Malanga is said to be "lit- 

 tle, if at all, inferior to Culadium escu- 

 Imtum; in wholesomeness and delicacy 

 far superior to spinach ; and in this re- 

 sp'ect it may vie with any European vege- 

 table whatever."— i>'«/. itag. The'"Yantia 

 Malanga" of Porto Kico is, accordirrg to 

 Cook, Colocasia antiquomm, var. es- 

 culenta. Other Yantias are species of 

 Xanthosoma. The botany of them is con- 

 fused. 



Xanthosoma is a genus of 25 species, 

 according to Eugler, who has given an 

 account of tht-iu in L^.fiii in DC. on 

 Phauer. vol.2 (Ix7',i|. 'I'Ih v iirc milky 

 herbs of South and Cintr,.! Aitu-rica with 

 a tuberous or tail .iml iliirk 11117.11106: Ivs. 



arrow-sha 



iiled ; 



■.Ua.-lv cut : fls. 

 .s with 4-6 sta- 

 iTsely pyramidal 

 Faces : ovary 2-4- 



A. Caudex a shoii, thick, erect rhizome. 

 Bagitti!61ium, Schott (Arum sagittifo- 

 ;j«m,Linn.). Malanga. A tropical vegetable 'iouu^' 

 plants of this are stemless, but in age, from the deca\ ot 

 the old Ivs., an annulated caudex is formed some nuhes 

 in height, each throwing out stout libers from the base 

 and from time to time producing offsets, bj which the 

 plant is easily propagated, or if suffered to remain the 



2756 Xanthosoma 



Lmdeni 



275b Ten 

 row shape 



a goodU number ot liases I I I I | I 1 



warm moist atmosphere tl | I I! 



g)0d appearance m 1 greenl 1 I > 



even be used as house plant 11 I 1 I 1 1 in 



texture than caladiums Prop b\ dw isioii Bef re re 

 potting put the pieces in a warm sand bed to encour 

 age fresh roots L\ s oblong hastate with acute basal 

 lobes. 



X. belophyUiim. Km 

 and a cordate-hastatf I 

 Kocii (X. Caraeasanini 

 has Ivs. pale green hen 

 at the apex and the mi 

 X. Mafdffa, Schott (('. 

 the preceding, has a s 

 but the posterior cost; 

 gle, the angle in the lir 



rhizome 



\V. .M. 



2755. Xanthorrhiza apiilolia (> 



plant becomes tufted, and numerous Ivs. are produced 

 from the summit of the short, yet stem-like trunks " 

 (B.M. 4989). Lvs. 1-2 or almost 3 ft. long, broadly 



XANTHOXYLUM (Greek, xanthos, yellow, and x!^- 

 loii, wood). Sometimes spelled Zanthoxylum. In- 

 cluding Faijara. BiMcece. Prickly Ash. Tooth- 

 ache Tree. Ornamental deciduous or evergreen 

 trees and shrubs, mostly prickly, with alternate odd- 

 pinnate or sometimes simple leaves and small greenish 

 or whitish flowers iu axillary clusters or terminal pani- 

 cles followed by small cajisular, often ornamental 

 fruits. X. Americainim is the only species which is 

 hardy north, but some ot tlie species from E. Asia will 

 probably prove fairlv hardy in tlie middle Atlantic 

 states. As ornamental shrubs they are valued chiefly 

 for their fruits, but some have handsome foliage also, 

 and X. ailaufhoides is called by Sargent one of the 

 most beautiful trees of Japan. They seem to be not 



