THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
115 
Edible Foliage Pl^axts.— Certain species of Coleus 
are so extensively used in this country tor the decorative 
effects of their variegated leaves that thev are generally 
known as foliage plants. It may be news to some that in 
other parts of the world the sijecies of Colcus have other 
uses. In India Calais barbatiis is cultivated for its tul>erous 
roots, which are eaten as pickles. The plant is said to be 
ornamental enough to be planted among other flowers. The 
bread-and-butter plant {Colcus aromaticus) is another 
m-ember of this genus cidtivated in India. It has fragrant, 
fleshy leaves and is often eaten as a salad with bread, 
whence the common name. 
Inspirations to Botanists.— There was a time, of 
course, in the lives of all great botanists when they knew 
absolutely nothing about botany. Some few came from 
botanical families, and so almost unconsciously acquired 
the rudiments of the science, but it is interesting to note what 
trivial things turned the attention of others toward plants. 
Thomas Nuttall was a printer, and came to America to fol- 
low that trade. Happening to becom.e curious about the 
Virginia creeper, he grew interested in botany and soon be- 
came famous in the study. Asa Gray had his attention first 
turned to botany by the h'ttle spring beauty (Claytonui Vir- 
ginica^. Gray's early botanical studies were greatly ad- 
vanced by his association with Dr. Jolin Torrey, wlii. ac- 
cording to report, obtained his early l»tanical knowledge 
in a peculiar way. Torrey's father xxas sheriff in Xew 
Vork City, and during his tenn of oflice a certain eariy bot- 
anist was impris'>ned for some small offense. From this 
botanist young Ti>rrey ••brained his tirst start in botany. 
Without doubt n^any rlie readers <-,f thi^ paragraph can 
distinctly recall th.e circiKr:.-iai:ces that inclined them to the 
