BOTANICAL. INDEX 
01 
is spread open, which it does to the very base, the color being a pale straw yellow 
with a large dark purple spot at the base; the spadix is short, with the upper or male 
portion of a bright orange yellow. 
Richardia alba niaculata, (Fig. 41,) Richardia hestata, and 
their varieties, are bulbous rooted, perennial, herbaceous 
haps too small for 
florists’ use, as each one produces flowers of about the same size and color, has the 
same general form of growth, excepting R. hestata has more of a halbert-shaped leaf, 
and the hastate portion of the leaf is curiously wrinkled and folded into various 
fantastic shapes, giving it a crispy or bunchy appearance at the base. Fig. 42 is 
intended to illustrate this peculiarity, but it was almost impossible to bring out all 
the folds in a wood-cut as clear and distinct as desired; however, the idea is quite 
apparent. 
By the middle of August all the species of Richardia, except R. Africana, will 
have ripened their foliage and must have a season of rest, when they must be laid 
away in a warm, dry place, either in the pot of earth in which they grew or in dry 
sand, until ready to start again. We start them usually in January, or at farthest 
by the end of February, by bringing them into a warm and light situation; giving 
them a moderate supply of water at first, increasing the amount as they come into 
foliage. The soil best suited to their wants when grown in pots is peat or leaf mold, 
with a liberal quantity of fine, sharp sand ; but young bulbs will grow much larger 
and stronger if planted in the free ground. Indeed, old ones planted out after 
blooming will grow so much stronger, that they are more desirable for future use. 
They increase by scales or little bulbs forming at the side of old ones ; but this method 
being too slow for commercial use, the propagator plants the bulb in the spring, in 
clean sand over heat, and in a short time the upper surface will present a number of 
eyes, or sprouts, and by cutting the bulb in pieces, so that each piece will contain an 
eye, a separate plant is formed. But if it is not separated, only the central one will 
usually grow ; for this one being the strongest, will absorb the nourishment of the 
whole tuber. 
Fig. 42. R. hestata varieqata. 
plants, of dwarf growth, with 
arrow-shaped leaves, attaining 
maturity in a very short space 
of time after planting or pot- 
ting in the spring. The flower 
is only about one-third the size 
of R. Africana, of the same 
general for m , and of a 
greenish- white color ; but as 
the flower does not grow 
above the foliage, it is not 
as showy for decorative pur- 
poses. However, the leaves 
being dotted over the 
entire surface with 
small, snow - white 
spots, they are al- 
ways attractive even 
when not in bloom. 
The specific differ- 
ence between R. alba 
niaculata and R. hes- 
tata variegata is per- 
We have in preparation for the Index a series of illustrated papers on the so-called 
Water Lilies, particularly those found growing within the limits of the United States, 
and had selected the Nelumbium, (Lotus,) for this number, because it is comparatively 
so little known, and as it is such a curious plant. The engravings are nearly com- 
plete, and the text is already prepared, but for sufficient reasons we thought it best 
to delay its publication until the July number, when it will appear. ■ We deem this 
explanation due our many friends who have contributed to its completion. As a 
substitute, we have chosen the Richardia, (Calla,) which is all the exotic or intro- 
duced species we propose to notice for some time. 
