CALLA LILY. 



( Richardia africana . ) 



The so-called Calla Lily is an herbace- 

 ous plant belonging to the Araceae and 

 is closely related to calamus, Jack-in-the- 

 pulpit, and arum. It is a native of South 

 Africa, and like most of the order it pre- 

 fers a very moist soil and warm climate. 

 It has comparatively large saggitat* 3 

 leaves ; is nonoecious, the staminate and 

 pistillate flowers being in close proximity 

 on the same plant. 



The plant is also known as Lily of the 

 Nile, African Lily and Ethiopian Lily. 

 The word Calla is supposed to be derived 

 from calyx, the first protective covering 

 of complete flowers. The plant is very 

 extensively cultivated in all countries, 

 especially the warmer countries and isl- 

 ands. It is to be found in gardens, hot- 

 houses and conservatories. The plant 

 has evidently been known for many cen- 

 turies. 



Some very misleading opinions and 



names exist with reference to this plant. 

 In the first place it is not a lily at all, 

 belonging to an entirely different order. 

 The name Lily of the Nile is wrong be- 

 cause it is a native of South Africa. To 

 speak of the handsome flowers is wrong 

 because the part mostly admired is not a 

 flower in the botanical sense, but simply 

 a leafy involucral covering of a pure 

 waxy white color. The inflorescence 

 proper is the yellow central cone-like 

 structure known as spadix and upon 

 which the small non-attractive stamin- 

 ate or pistillate flowers are closely 

 crowded. Calla, according to the etymol- 

 ogy of the word, is wrong for reasons 

 already given, that is, it is not a true 

 calyx, but rather a calyx or corolla-like 

 involucre. It no doubt serves the func- 

 tion of a corolla in that it attracts insects 

 for the purpose of effecting pollination. 

 Albert Schneider. 



JUNE. 



Hail, hail ! O virgin Queen ! the feast is spread ; 



The wide air's hush'd in glad expectancy, 

 The eager earth's green-rob'd, flower-garlanded ; 



The bidden guests atremble wait for thee. 

 Behold ! In golden clouds of perfume sweet 



Crown'd with the flaming glory of the dawn, 

 Like some fair naiad from her chaste retreat, 



She glides across the million jewel'd lawn; 

 Her breath unseals the secret of the rose, 



Her smile woos forth the coy young violet, 

 Before her sceptre wand, all Nature flows 



In one vast harmony to music set. 

 Hail, hail! Our joy is at its highest noon; 

 Oh, welcome, Queen! O 1 hail, sweet virgin June! 



— William Henry Tompkins. 



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