72 THE CANNA FAMILY. 



genus, however, is very susceptible of improvement as has been vi'idely 

 shown by the results obtained with other species. 



ARROWROOT FAfllLY. 



MarantdcecB, 



POWDERY THALIA. 



Thalia dealbata. 



FAMILY COLOUR ODOUR RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



Arrowroot. Purple Scentless. Texas to S. Carolina. Jiitie-September. 



Flozuers : perfect; irregular; growing \\\ a panicled spike at the end of a scape 

 three to six feet long, and having narrow, early falling bracts at the bases of the 

 pedicels. Sepals: three; minute; equal. Petals: three, slightly coherent at the 

 base. Imperfect sia7}ieiis : slightly coherent; one of them broad and crested. Per- 

 fect stamen : one. Capsule : ovoid. Leaves : from the base, very large, with 

 smooth petioles, one to two or three feet long and swollen at the lower extremity; 

 ovate ; pointed at the apex and squared, rounded or sub-cordate at the base ; entire 

 with parallel, divergent veins. 



This striking looking plant which in the beginning was discovered by Mr. 

 John Fraser near Jacksonborough, South Carolina, then became lost to 

 botanists until it was refound by Mr. Middleton along the banks of the Ash- 

 ley river.' It there flourished in great abundance. Perhaps its most unusual 

 characteristic is the powder-like substance which covers it and by which it 

 maybe distinguished from any other one of its relatives. About the flowers 

 there appear always to hover many large bumble bees which act as their 

 agents in cross-fertilization, and as soon as this has taken place they 

 quickly wither. 



T. divat'icala is known by its more open, divergent inflorescence and the 

 zig-zag line which is formed by the peduncles. The flower's bracts are 

 membraneous, very long and pubescent on their outsides. The leaves are 

 similar to those of the preceding species ; but on the plant there is no pow- 

 dery substance. 



THE ORCHID FAHILY. 



OrcJiidacea;. 

 A large group of perennial herbs with bulbs, conns, or fibrous, or 

 tuberous roots and either scale-like^ or foliaceons^ simple, entire leaves^ 



