BOTANICAL INDEX. 
59 
FAMILY ARACEJS. 
Acorus, (Sweet Flag.) Linnaeus. 
Aloccisia. Smith. 
Amorphophallus. Blume. 
Ariscema, (Indian Turnip.) Martins. 
Arum, (type.) Linnaeus. 
Caladium. Ventenat. 
Calla. Linnaeus. 
Colocasia. Linnaeus. 
Dieffenbachia. Schott. 
Peltaiidra. Baf. 
Philodendron. Lindley. 
Pothos. Linnaeus. 
Richardia. Smith. 
Symplocarpus, (Skunk Cabbage.) Salisbury. 
Nearly, all the species of this family delight in a damp situation, and while the 
most of them may be said to be true Aquatics, (Water Lilies,) a few species are found 
in rich, soft ground, that becomes perfectly dry during a portion of the year. They 
all flourish under cultivation, and adapt themselves to a dryer situation with remark- 
able success; not, however, attaining their natural vigor and beauty. But the 
Richardia, (Calla,) being the special object of interest in this article, we will now 
consider it more in detail. 
There are but four species and two varieties of the Richardia known. They are — 
Richardia Africana, Kunth. From the Cape Richardia hestata. From Natal. 
of Good Hope. Richardia hestata variegata, (variety.) 
Richardia Africana nana, (variety.) Richardia melanoleuca. From Africa. 
Richardia alba maculata. From Africa. 
The best known and most universally cultivated species is the so-called Calla 
uEthiopica, ( Richardia Africana ,) and for the present our description will apply more 
especially to this species. Although it is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, it has 
become thoroughly naturalized in the Eiver Nile, and has received the very general 
appellation of “ Lily of the Nile.” 
The flower-stem, starting from the apex of the tuberous root, is inclosed within 
the leaf-stem, which serves as a sheath for protecting the young and tender stalk and 
flower, and as it matures is terminated by a greenish-white so-called flower bud, (see 
Fig. 38, which represents a Richardia (Calla) as seen growing in a globe,) inclosing 
a fleshy, club-shaped spike, the flower-stem (spadix) and flowers. One of our com- 
monest errors is in regard to the flowers of all the Aracece. In our every day conver- 
sation we talk of the white flower of the Calla, the green or purple flower of the 
Arum, etc., meaning the hooded or rolled leaf (spathe) which serves as a floral envelop 
for the protection of the true flower-stalk while the flowers are as yet undeveloped. 
The spathe upon maturity spreads out into a broad snow-white leaf, as seen in Fig. 
39, which represents a Richardia (Calla) Africana flower, with a portion of the spathe 
at the base cut away, to show the position and form of the spadix. Fig. 39, A, is a 
section of the lower part of the spadix, enlarged to show the ovules and barren 
Fig. 38. R. Africana. 
Fig. 39. R. Africana— A, B, C and D, parts of the flower. 
