34 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
The specimens are kept at the rear of the plantation in order to prevent 
the public from coming into touch with t 
hem. The juice from any 
part of the plant paralyzes the muscles of the mouth if brought into 
contact with it, and causes temporary loss of speech—hence its com- 
mon name. The juice causes temporary blindness if it touches the 
eyes. In extreme cases of poisoning, the victim may die. 
Dorstenia, represented here by numerous specimens of two species, is 
a native of the West Indies, Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia, and 
belongs to the Moraceae, the family to which the mulberry belongs. 
This genus is of interest as the intermediate stage between figs and 
other plants, and bears a fruit that looks like a fig turned inside out. 
Heliconia, or W1LD PLANTAIN, belongs to the Musaceae, the family to 
which the banana belongs. ‘The genus is represented here by 4 species, 
all from tropical America. 
Maranta arundinacea, or ARROWROOT, a native of tropical America, 
belongs to the Marantaceae, a family with no local representatives 
growing farther north than Missouri. The name is said to be due to 
the fact that the Indians applied the root to wounds received from 
poisoned arrows. 
The rhizomes yield the arrowroot of commerce. 
Six other species are also represented here. 
Panax fruticosa, a native of the islands of the Pacific, belongs to the 
Araliaceae, or Aralia family. This species bears five to seven different 
types of leaves on the same plant. Visitors usually mistake it for a 
product of grafting. 
Ravenala madagascariensis, or TRAVELER'S TREE, is a native of Mada- 
gascar that belongs to the same family as the wild plantain and the 
banana. It is an exceedingly fast growing tree, named for the water 
that is always to be found in the space between the base of the leaf and 
the trunk of the tree. The specimen shown here is a seedling grown 
in the Conservatory. It will soon reach the roof of the building. 
Spironema fragrans, a native of Mexico, belongs to the Commeli- 
anaceae, the family to which the Wandering Jew belongs. The plant 
bears most fragrant white flowers. 
Tacca cristata, a native of Malaya, belongs to the Taccaceae, a family 
with no local representatives. This plant is in bloom the year round, 
and bears what are probably the oddest looking flowers in the Con- 
servatory. 
Xanthosoma, is another genus of Aeroids that produces edible tubers. 
The genus is represented here by 3 species. 
