CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 335 



itself gradually into the dark verdant green of the edges. The 

 leaves die down in the Cold weather. It puts forth its flowering 

 spathe in April, which is of a pallid-green colour, and of no 

 interest. To develop the leaves to their full perfection of beauty, 

 it requires a good light soil, rather rich, and an abundance of 

 water and shade. Easily propagated by offsets of its roots. 



2. A. Dracunculus. A Cape rhizomatous plant, the principal 

 beauty of which consists in its smooth, upright, bright-green 

 stem, strangely spotted and mottled with white like a snake ; 

 bears in March a large chocolate-red spathed flower, emitting 

 an intolerably offensive smell. It blossomed with me the first 

 year of its being brought from the Cape ; and the rhizomes 

 produced fine plants a second season, but after that perished. 



The leaves die down in April ; and the same mode of culti- 

 vation, in every respect, is suited to this plant as that recom- 

 mended below for the Eichardia. 



Alocacia. 



1. A. metallica. Native of Borneo; accounted in Europe a 

 magnificent plant for its leaves, which are of the form and size 

 of the noble, though very common, Mdn-Kuchoo, with a rich 

 bronze-coloured surface. It has of late been introduced into 

 Calcutta, as well as the four following species: 2. A. argyro- 

 neura; 3. A. marmorata; 4. zebrina; 5. A. Veitchii syn. of A. 

 Loweii, has narrow javelin-headed leaves, dark green, with 

 white veins. 



Golocasia. 



C. odorata. A native of Pegu ; described as growing with a 

 caudex of three to six feet high, and from four to six inches in 

 diameter, crowned with a head of large narrowly-cordate leaves 

 on stout footstalks ; a plant of truly noble aspect. The fragrance 

 of this species renders it very desirable. The diffused odour 

 resembles that of Mignonette, but on nearer contact that of 

 some Orchids. Under the name of Arum odorum it is met with 

 here, but only in a dwarf, unthriving state. 



Caladium. 

 A genus of tuberous-rooted plants, natives principally of the 



