188 Mr. F. Williamson on Caladium distillatorium. 



XIX. — Some observations on Caladium distillatorium. 

 By Mr. Francis Williamson. 



To the Editors of the Annals of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, 

 Having obtained from Mr. Williamson, late Curator of the 

 Sheffield Botanic Garden, an account of a plant in that collection, 

 to which he has given the name of Caladium distillatorium, and 

 thinking it well-worthy of preservation, I beg to entrust it to your 

 care. I remain, yours respectfully, 



Norton Hall, Derbyshire, Jan. 27, 1848. James Yates. 



Sir, Broom Hill, Sheffield, Dec. 28, 1847. 



I FEEL a pleasure in complying with your request by giving you 

 an account of a few of the most striking peculiarities of that in- 

 teresting plant, the Caladium distillatorium. 



This is perhaps the most gigantic species of the family, and 

 when well-grown possesses many peculiarities to the casual as 

 Well as the botanical observer. In the beginning of the winter 

 of 1844 a small tuber two inches in length by half an inch in 

 thickness was imported from Bahia in South America. Towards 

 the spring of 1845 it showed itself to be a Caladium of gross 

 habit ; early in April it had leaves upwards of twelve inches long. 

 The pot in which it stood, six inches in diameter, being full of 

 roots, made it necessary to transfer it to one of upwards of twelve 

 inches, which soon also was filled, the plant daily increasing in 

 magnitude. In June it was removed as a permanent shift to the 

 half of a wine-pipe. The plant now became exceedingly inter- 

 esting to every beholder. The beautiful, smooth, green, heart- 

 shapfed leaves, their pleasingly graceful outline, the singularly 

 shaded and attractive arrangement of the veins, and umbrageous 

 shade from the majestic leaves high over head, may be more 

 readily comprehended by the fact, that from a measurement 

 taken in September — 



The foot-stalk of the leaf alone, from where it embraces the trunk 

 or stem to its insertion into the disc of the leaf, 9 feet 6 inches. 

 The disc taken at its greatest length ... 6 feet 6 inches. 

 The disc taken at its greatest breadth ... 3 feet 9 inches. 

 Length of the trunk or stem about .... 1 foot 6 inches. 



In the night-time each of the leaves had the peculiar power of 

 distilling water by a somewhat pulsative action from an orifice 

 near the apex of the leaf on the upper side. Around the mar- 

 gin of the leaf is a large duct or channel into which the larger 

 veins empty themselves, and thus convey their contents to the 



