PARK AND CEMETERY 
J 55 
none of these appear to have found their way to the 
Florida "Keys.” From about the sea level of the old 
world tropics to 4,500 feet of elevation the branching 
candelabriform pandanus trees are often found prop- 
ping and supporting themselves by aerial roots dis- 
posed more closely around the stems, but of similar 
guy-rope character to those of philodendron. They 
have their reproductive organs arranged on spadixes 
accompanied by many spathes and so on, but their 
most obvious character is the curious spiral arrange- 
ment of their great strap-shaped, often very spiny 
leaves. Thus : the tropical gardener may often have 
a choice of good sized trees, 
climbers with large sim- 
ple, lobed, or perforated 
leaves, and a great variety 
of herbs with striking for- 
mation or variegation or 
both, and these for the bed 
or the bog. The spathes 
are for the most part green 
or brown, but sometimes 
white, yellow or bright 
scarlet. These more or 
less cover what are other- 
wise almost naked flowers 
gathered together into 
dense spikes or spadixes 
with few or many scales or 
hairs instead of petals. In 
the warmer regions often 
with shade, the group will 
be of increasing interest as 
the tropics are more nearly 
approached. Some botan- 
ists following Meisner, as- 
sociate these plants with 
palms, but there seems no 
sense in that, unless maybe 
in the boundary plantations 
of a tropical garden. 
Pandanus has 50 species, distributed over tropical 
Asia, Malaisia, Oceanica, Africa and its islands, with 
P. tennuifolius often credited to the West Indies. 
Several variegated forms occur, such as P. Baptistii, 
with creamy yellow stripes, and forms of Veitchii with 
both white and yellowish variegation. These and 
probably Javanicus variegatus are capital bedders 
where the summers are six months long or more. 
Carludovica, with 34 species, are from the West In- 
dies and tropical America. They have palm-like foli- 
age and occasionally are climbers. 
Typha, “Cats tails,” have 10 species, widely distrib- 
uted over the temperate and warm regions. T. Do- 
mingensis, found in southwest Texas, grows to 12 or 
even 18 feet high, with flower spikes sometimes 3 feet 
long. 
Spikes of Flower of 
Typha Amorpho- 
latifolia. phallus 
Rivieri. 
Acorns, "Sweet flag,” has 2 species of wide distribu- 
tion in the northern hemisphere. Both have varie- 
gated and other forms. 
Monster a has 15 species, all tropical American. 
They may be used fastened to the trunks of trees dur- 
ing summer. 
Arontiuni, "Golden club,” is a monotypic aquatic, 
found from New England to Florida. 
Symplocarpus,, “Skunk cabbage,” is also monotypic, 
growing in bogs or wet ground and having a wide 
range. An irreverant florist suggested it as an ap- 
propriate national flower some years ago, but as it is 
also Asiatic, it wouldn’t do at all ! 
Calla palustris is another monotypic native bog 
plant, extending far northward, also in Europe and 
Asia. 
Amor pho phallus has 15 species, from the East In- 
dian peninsulas and islands. A. Rivieri is well known 
for its spreading divided leaves. The tubers stored 
at a temperature suitable for dahlias often throw up 
their strange flowers during mild spells of winter 
weather, when it is often advisable to give them a 
wide berth. 
Pcltandra, in two native species, called "Arrow 
arums,” are bog plants. 
Richardia, in seven or eight species, are South 
African. R. Africana is largely grown for trade uses 
in California. R. Albo-maculata, which occasionally 
endures a winter, flowers and seeds well when planted 
out north of New York, but should have a northern 
exposure southward. R. Elliotiana, R. hastata, R. me- 
lanoleuca and Trilby’s hybrid, have yellow flowers in 
various shades. 
Alocasia has over 30 species, natives of the East In- 
dies, Malaisia and New Guinea, and A. marginata is 
said to be Brazilian. A. macrorhiza variegata was 
sent to Europe from the Calcutta Botanic gardens 
about 40 years ago, received great attention and mul- 
tiplied exceedingly. It needs rich soil and plenty of 
water during growth, when it ought to excel the or- 
dinary "Elephant’s ears.” 
Colocasia has six species or thereabouts, and one or 
two are commonly employed during summer. They 
are largely used for food in the tropics. 
Caladium, in about six species, are mostly Brazilian. 
C. bicolor has given rise to endless varieties with mar- 
vellously colored foliage ; they are mostly too tender 
for bedding in the upper South, but may possibly 
stand better nearer the gulf. The little C. argyrites 
is now called C. Humboldtii. Do botanists really 
think people are going to change such a widely used 
name as argyrites ? and if they don’t, what is the use of 
their “laws” ? Better by far had they submitted the 
lists of garden plants to competent authorities and 
taken the majority for it. 
Arisoema, “Indian turnip,” is credited with 50 spe- 
cies in temperate and sub-tropical Asia, Abyssinia and 
