344 



cocos 



CODLEUM 



brown - lanate ; petiole shorter than or equaling the 

 sheath, a fourth or fifth as long as the rachis; segments 

 equidistant, 50 on each side, narrowly lanceolate, obliquely 

 acuminate and caudate, silvery glaucous beneath. Braz. 



The following are obscure trade names of rare plants not 

 sufficiently described : C. Alphonsei, C, Bonneti, C. Gaertneri, 

 C. Maximiliana and C. Yurumagnas. 



JARED G. SMITH and W. M. 



CODI.ZEUM (Malayan name). EupTiorMcLcece. CROTON 

 of florists. Four or 5 Malayan species of shrubs or 

 trees. Plants mono3cious : racemes axillary, long and 

 slender: pistillate fls. with small 5-lobed calyx and no 

 petals, the ovary 3-loculed : stamens 15-30, surrounded 

 by calyx and 5-6 small petals: Ivs. alternate and petio- 

 late, normally entire, thick, more or less Aucuba-like. 

 Differs from Croton in the absence of petals from the 

 pistillate fls., and in technical characters of stamens. 



The Codiaeums of gardens are of many widely differ- 

 ent kinds, and many of these forms have Latin-made 

 names. They are all derived, however, from one poly- 

 morphous natural group, which J. Miiller, the latest 

 monographer (DC. Prodr. 15: pt. 2, 1119), considers to be 

 one species (C.variegatiim). This plant is widely dis- 

 tributed in the Malayan region, and is commonly 

 planted in the Moluccas and other parts. The Crotons 

 or Codiaeums of horticulturists fall into three groups, 

 those with ovate, short-stalked Ivs., those with narrower 

 and spatulate Ivs., and those with very narrow and often 

 twisted Ivs. These correspond with Miiller 's three nat- 

 ural divisions : 



variegatum, Linn., var. pictum, Miiller (C. pictum, 

 Hook.). Fig. 509. Lvs. short-petioled, ovate or ovate- 

 lanceolate, more or less cordate at the base, l%-3 times 

 longer than wide, beautifully and variously marked with 

 red, yellow and green. L.B.C. 9:870. B.M. 3051. 



Var. Moluccanum, Muller. Fig. 510. Lvs. long- or 

 short-petioled, widely or narrowly spatulate, acute at 

 base, and short-acuminate. 



509. Codiaeum Baronne de Rothschild (var. pictum}. 



Var. genuinum, Muller (Croton variegdtus, Linn.). 

 Figs. 511, 512. Lvs. broad- or narrow-lanceolate, equally 

 narrowed at both ends, acutish or obtuse, never cordate 

 at base. 



The Codiaeums of gardens are prized chiefly for the 

 varied and brilliant markings of the Ivs. The colors are 

 in shades of red, yellow, orange and purple, and the 

 markings often run into white. The plants have been 



modified almost endlessly by domestication. Some of 

 the modification is the result of crossing. The Codiaeums 

 are prized both as indoor foliage plants and as subjects 

 for massing in the open. In the open air they develop 

 most brilliant colors in our bright, hot summers. The 

 plants will not stand frost. Specimens which are be- 

 coming too large for the greenhouse may be placed in 

 the center of the bed for summer and thrown away after 

 frost. With Crotons it is especially desirable to have 

 the ball of roots well developed. The smallest sized 

 plants, which naturally form the outer ring in the sum- 

 mer bed, may be plunged in their pots into the soil, and 

 are easily removed in the fall to the greenhouse. Such 

 plants, when taken up in the fall and brought indoors, 

 should be cut back at the time of potting. They do not 

 make the best subjects for winter decoration, although 

 good results may be got from them by the exercise of 

 care. L. H. B. 



Codiaeums (or Crotons, as they are popularly known 

 in America) are beautiful plants, with many forms of 

 handsome and odd foliage of the most brilliant coloring. 

 The colors range from almost pure white to light and 

 deep yellow, orange, pink, red and crimson, in the most 

 charming combinations. In some cases one color pre- 

 dominates, as in Carrierei (yellow), Czar Alexander 

 III. (crimson), Hawkerii (light yellow). These varie- 

 ties of distinct coloring make beautiful specimen plants 

 for jardinieres ; and their beauty is enhanced when used 

 in jardinieres of appropriate color. As exhibition plants 

 they are very effective, and may be grown to specimens 

 5 or 6 feet high, or even larger. In smaller sizes, 

 Codiaeums are much used as table plants, for which 

 purpose well colored tops are rooted and grown on until 

 they are from 12 to 15 inches high. The narrow-leaved 

 varieties are most used for this purpose. Codiaeums 

 are also very attractive in vases and window boxes 

 and for mantel and table decorations. They are also 

 very valuable as bedding plants. Planted in clumps or 

 masses, the effect of the combination of rich colors is 

 charming. They should be planted in only good, rich, 

 not too heavy soil, and regularly syringed to keep down 

 red spider. They color best when fully exposed to the 

 sun, and should not be planted out until about the 10th 

 of June in the neighborhood of New York and Phila- 

 delphia. If something is needed to make the beds look 

 attractive early in the season, it is a good plan to plant 

 pansies in April, to remain until it is time to plant the 

 Codiaeums. Some of the tender varieties, such as Reedii, 

 Albicans, and a few others, are inclined to burn in the 

 extremely hot weather, but nearly all the sorts do well 

 bedded out. Among the very best for this purpose are 

 Queen Victoria, Dayspring, Baron Rothschild, An- 

 dreanum, Lady Zetland, Carrierei, Barryi, Hawkerii, 

 Fasciatum, Anietumense. 



The house culture of Codiaeums is very simple. It is 

 necessary that a night temperature be maintained of 70 

 to 75, and that the air be kept moist by frequent 

 syringings. Cuttings of half-ripened wood may be 

 easily rooted at any time from October until J*une, a 

 bottom heat of 80 being just what they need. When 

 very fine specimens are desired, root strong and shapely 

 tops by making an incision in the stem and tying 

 moss around the wounded part; it will be rooted ready 

 to pot in about three weeks. By this method all the foli- 

 age may be retained, and a perfect plant be the result. 

 The more light the plant gets, the better will be the 

 color; but with some kinds of glass it is necessary to 

 shade lightly to prevent burning of the leaves. They 

 may be grown finely in a house glazed with ground 

 glass, which admits the light and does not require 

 shading. It is well to syringe two or three times a week 

 with tobacco water, to kill mealy bug and red spider. 

 Little's Antipest, or any emulsion of coal-oil, is a good 

 insecticide for Codia?ums. New varieties from seed (the 

 result of crossing existing sorts) are continually being 

 raised. Seed ripens freely under glass in* North 

 America, and there is no doubt that the list of about 

 eighty choice varieties now in cultivation will be largely 

 extended in the near future. 



The following horticultural varieties are in the American 

 trade : 



Aigberth Gem. 

 Albo-lineatum . 



