313 



PPOPAGATIOK OF PLAlifTS. 



poisonous juice. The common Oleander (Weriwm), is a weil-known ever- 

 green shrub belonging; to this family. Among the low herbaceous and 

 evergreen genera, the Apocyman (Indian Hemp), Amsonia, and Vinca 

 (Periwinkle), are common border ornamental plants. Propagated by 

 cuttings and divisions of the clumps or stools in spring. 



AroidecB or Araceee (Arum Family). — A large order of herbaceous 

 perennial plants with tuberous rhizomes. The most familiar genera in 

 cultivation are Aloeasia, AmorpJiophaUus, Anthurium, Caladium, Coloca- 

 sia (Tanya), Diffenbachia, and Richardia (Calla). The flowers are very 

 minute, unisexual or perfect, produced on a central organ called a spa- 

 dix, and this surrounded by a large spathe, which is sometimes — as in 

 the AmmphaphdOMS .Bij««rt— two feet or more in diameter, and emiting » 



Pig. 105. — C0L0CASL4. ESOnLENTA. 



most disagreeable odor. The rhizomes of some of the genera contain an 

 acrid watery juice, as in the wild Indian Turnip {Ariscema), while in 

 others, such as the Oolocasia esculenta, they are edible when cooked. 

 This edible species is known in oiir Southern States, where it has become 

 naturalized, as the Tanya. It is largely employed as a bedding-out 

 plant in the Northern States, the leaves growing to an immense size, and 

 the general habit and form of the plant is shown in figure 105. The 

 Richardia or Calla Lily, as it is called, is a well-known and common 

 window and greenhouse plant. The Caladiums are what may be termed 

 hot-house plants, requiring a high temperature and moist atmosphere to 

 insure the full development of their billliant colored and handsomely 



