COLCHICUM — COLOCASIA. 



59 



COLCHICUM. 

 Meadow Saffron. 

 The flowers of the various kinds of Colchicum so 

 closely resemble the different sorts of Crocus as not to be 

 distinguishable to the common observer ; the differ- 

 ence being a botanical one, and consists in their hav- 

 ing six stamens instead of three, and three styles instead 

 of one. The species are indigenous in the temperate 

 climates of Europe, and are largely cultivated for their 

 medical properties. They prefer wet meadows, which 

 they often cover with their purple crocus-like blossoms. 

 The flowers come up through the ground without the 

 leaves, in autumn. The leaves do not appear until 

 spring; then they should have careful attention, as, if 

 they are cut off or injured in any manner the bulb will 

 not make sufficient growth to flower the following 

 autumn. They prefer a light soil, which should either 

 be protected with a light mulching, after the foliage has 

 died down in early summer, or by a growth of some 

 annual, in order to keep the ground cool. It is better 

 to let them remain in the ground undisturbed for several 

 years. If a removal becomes necessary, from any cause, 

 it is better to replant with as little delay as possible. 

 All the species have the same general character ; a par- 

 ticular description of each is unnecessary. 



COLOCASIA. 



Among the species that make up this genus may be 

 found some very interesting plants for greenhouse culti- 

 vation and for the sub-tropical garden. The genus is 

 closely allied to Caladium, and most of the species are 

 known under that name. 



C. macrorhiza (Alocasia macrorhiza). — A native 

 of the Sandwich Islands, where it is largely cultivated 

 as an article of food, and is popularly known as Taro. 

 The root-stalks contain large quantities of starch, and 



