221 
A REMARKABLE PLANT OF A SOUTH AMERICAN 
TAIL-FLOWER 
In the latter part of the summer of 1900 an exceedingly inter- 
esting collection of plants of varied character was presented to 
the Garden by Mrs. F. L. Ames, of North Easton, Mass. A 
detailed account of this appeared in the October number of the 
Journal for that year, and reference was made at that time to the 
large specimen of Axthurtun Veitchii, one of the gems of that 
collection, and the subject of this sketch. It was at that time 
stated to be the largest plant in cultivation in this country, and it 
was supposed to have no equal in Europe. During the past 
spring the writer visited the principal botanical gardens of Europe, 
and at none of them was a plant seen to equal this one, and at 
but one place, the palm-garden at Frankfurt-am-Main, was a 
plant observed which at all approached it in proportions and vigor. 
The accompanying illustration will give some idea of its ap- 
pearance, but only a visit to the plant itself will give an apprecia- 
tion of the delicate shading and color of the striking leaves, Its 
removal resulted of necessity in somewhat of a check to the plant, 
but it soon became acclimated and put forth new leaves which 
rapidly replaced those unavoidably damaged in transit. Within 
a few months it had recovered its wonted vigor, and this improve- 
ment has continued until at the present time it has assumed the 
place of dignity in the house in which it is installed. It is located 
in the westerly side of No. 4, on the opposite side to the bananas, 
where it has been since its arrival. The plant now has a spread 
of a little over eight feet and has about seventy leaves, the ma- 
jority of them having a length of about four feet and a width of 
one foot. These are pendulous from long petioles, in some 
cases equalling the leaves in length, and entirely conceal the 
body of the plant and also in large part the tub in which it is 
planted. 
While the aroid family, to which this belongs, is widely dis- 
tributed, mainly in tropical regions, the anthuriums, or tail-flowers, 
as they are sometimes called, are not found outside of tropical 
America. Some 200 species are known up to the present time, 
