60 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS, 



furnish a staple article of diet among the natives. The 

 leaves are likewise used as a vegetable. A variety of this 

 species, C. m. variegata, is an interesting greenhouse 

 plant, remarkable for the bold and distinct markings of 

 the leaves, consisting of light green and pure white. 

 Its cultivation should be the same as the Caladium. 



C. esculenta (Caladium esculentum). This is the 

 Tanyah of the Southern States, and was formerly con- 

 siderably used by the negroes as an article of food. The 

 roots are boiled and eaten like potatoes. The tubers 

 increase in length annually by the new growth, like 

 those of the Calla, and this new growth is not eaten, it 

 being too acrid. The part used is the previous year's 

 growth. This species makes a beautiful plant for lawn 

 decoration, either planted singly, in clumps, or for bor- 

 ders of sub-tropical groups. Its requirements are a deep 

 rich soil, and plenty of moisture. If these are provided 

 a single plant will grow six feet in height, with leaves 

 four feet long and three feet wide. To secure a speci- 

 men of this kind the plant should have a pail of water 

 given it every day that it does not rain. The market is 

 supplied with the tubers of this species from Florida, 

 where it is extensively grown on marshy ground. A 

 variety from Cuba is found in the markets, but it is not 

 as desirable, as the leaves are smaller and the stems 

 purplish. 



C. odorata. — This has large cordate leaves, with 

 rounded lobes, and forms a stem-like root, often several 

 feet in height. It is a splendid plant for garden 

 decoration. 



There are several other species and varieties, but 

 there have been so many changes in their classification, 

 that much confusion exists in regard to their nomencla- 

 ture, the same species being, at different times, called 

 Caladium, Alocasia and Colocasia. 



