FIG. 154. ARUM DRACUNCULUS.
A. bulbosum (bulbous). Synonymous with A. ternatum.
A. Dracontium (Green Dragon). fl., spadix subulate, longer than the oblong convolute green spathe. June. l. pedate, entire. h. 2ft. North America, 1759. Hardy.
A. Dracunculus (Common Dragon).* fl., spadix lanceolate, shorter than the ovate, flat, smooth, brown spathe. July. l. pedate, entire. h. 3ft. South Europe, 1548. Hardy. SYN. Dracunculus vulgaris. See Fig. 154.
A. indicum (Indian). See Colocasia indica.
A. italicum (Italian).* fl., spathe ventricose below, opening nearly flat and very broad above; apex often falling over very shortly after expansion, sometimes greenish yellow, at others nearly white; spadix yellowish or creamy white, club-shaped, about one-third as long as the spathe. Spring. l. appearing before winter, radical, triangular-hastate. h. 9in. to 2ft. Channel Islands and Cornwall, &c. Hardy.
A. i. marmorata (marbled).* l. marbled with yellow. A very pretty and effective hardy border plant.
A. maculatum (spotted). Lords and Ladies; Cuckoo Pint. fl., spathe ventricose below and above, constricted in the middle, with inflexed edges when open, spotted with dull purple; spadix usually purple, shorter than the spathe. Spring. l. vernal radical, hastate-sagittate, with deflexed lobes. h. 9in. Britain, &c. This species is admirably adapted for a corner in the wild garden. See Fig. 153.
A. Malyi (Maly's). fl. whitish. Montenegro, 1860.
A. Nickelli (Nickel's). Levant, 1859. A form of A. italicum.
A. orientale (eastern). fl. resembling those of A. maculatum. June. l. brownish, simple, ovate, slightly sagittate. h. 1ft. Tauria, 1820. Hardy.
A. palæstinum (Palestine).* fl., spathe 7in. to 11in. long, purplish blotched or spotted outside, rich velvety black inside and yellowish white at the base of the tube; spadix much shorter than the spathe; petiole usually rising 8in. or 9in. above the leaves. May. l. four or five, triangular-hastate, acute, from 6in. to 14in. long, and from 3½in. to 7½in. broad; petioles 12in. to 18in. long. Jerusalem, 1864. Tender.
A. pictum (painted). h. 2ft. Corsica, 1801. Hardy.
A. proboscideum (proboscis-like).* fl., spathe greenish purple, navicular, horizontal, terminated by a straight tail; scapes arising from among the petioles. May. l. radical, about four, cordate-elliptic, entire. h. 6in. South Europe, 1823. Hardy.
A. spectabile (showy). fl., spathe ovate-oblong, acuminate, dark purplish inside, longer than the purplish spadix. l. broadly hastate-sagittate. h. 1ft. Asia Minor. Half-hardy.
A. spirale (spiral). fl., spadix lanceolate, shorter than the oblong-lanceolate spirally twisted brown spathe. May. l. linear-lanceolate. Plant stemless. h. 1ft. China, 1816. Tender.
A. tenuifolium (narrow-leaved).* fl., spadix subulate, longer than the white lanceolate spathe. April. l. linear-lanceolate. Plant stemless. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1570. Hardy.
A. ternatum (three-leafleted). A synonym of Pinellia tuberifera.
A. variolatum (variegated). Dalmatia, 1859. Hardy.
A. venosum (veined). A synonym of Sauromatum guttatum.
A. Zelebori (Zelebor's). A form of A. maculatum.
ARUM LILY. See Richardia æthiopica.
ARUNDINARIA (altered from arundo, a reed). ORD. Gramineæ. A small genus of hardy or nearly hardy shrubby grasses, having strong jointed stems, and frequently included under Bambusa. For sub-tropical gardening purposes more particularly it is exceedingly ornamental as an isolated tuft. It thrives best in a deep, rich soil, and requires plenty of water when in a growing state. Increased by division of the roots.
FIG. 155. ARUNDINARIA FALCATA.
A. falcata (sickle-shaped).* l. linear-lanceolate, very acute, shortly stalked, very light green. Stems freely branched, deep green, and very slender. h. 3ft. to 6ft. India. An extremely handsome species for greenhouse decoration; also for outdoor work, particularly in the South of England, &c. SYN. Bambusa gracilis, of gardens.
A. Maximowiczii (Maximowicz's). This Japanese species is believed to be allied to, if not identical with, [Bambusa Simonii.] Quite hardy.
A. Metake (Metake). l. lanceolate, with very sharp points, dark green, persistent, narrowed into a short leafstalk, 6in. to 12in. long; sheath ample. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Japan. A handsome, hardy, dwarf, much-branched species, forming grand specimens, and producing flowers very freely. SYN. Bambusa japonica.
ARUNDO (origin of word doubtful; stated by some authorities to be from arundo, a reed; and others as from the Celtic arn, signifying water). Reed. ORD. Gramineæ. A very ornamental group of half or quite hardy plants, of very easy culture in ordinary garden soil, preferring damp situations. Panicle loose; calyx two-valved, unequal, many-flowered; corolla of two very unequal valves; all, except the lower and imperfect one, surrounded by a tuft of hairs. Fruit free, covered by the corolla. Arundos are very valuable either for conservatory decoration, sub*-tropical gardening, or cultivation in clumps on the turf of the flower-garden or pleasure ground, and the margins of lakes. Although well worth growing, all are inferior to their ally, the Pampas Grass. Propagated by seeds or divisions, the spring being the best time to adopt either method of increase.
A. conspicua (conspicuous).* fl. silky-white, on large drooping racemes, and lasting in beauty for several months. h. 3ft. to 8ft., but in a good deep and sandy loam it sometimes attains the height of 12ft. New Zealand, 1843. This fine species grows in dense tufts, from which arise numerous leathery, narrow, smooth (or slightly rough), long curving leaves, and erect, slender culms. The plant is not sufficiently hardy to withstand a severe winter, and should, therefore, be protected with mats, or be grown in tubs, so that it can be removed under shelter before the approach of winter. These precautions are unnecessary in the more southern counties of England.
A. Donax (Donax).* Great Reed. fl. reddish, ultimately whitish, in numerous spikelets, forming a large compact panicle 12in. to 16in. long. Autumn. l. alternate, lanceolate-acute, large, and ornamental, glaucous green, arching. h. about 12ft. South Europe, 1648. This also requires protection during winter in the colder counties. See Fig. 156.
A. D. versicolor (various-coloured).* h. 3ft. South Europe. Although much smaller, this variety is far superior to the type for gardening purposes, and has its leaves ribboned with white. It requires a deep, well drained, sandy loam to thrive well, and a thorough winter protection of cocoa-fibre refuse or coal ashes. For isolated tufts or groups, few plants can equal it. It is propagated by placing a stem in water, which induces little rooted plants to start from the joints; these should be separated, potted off, and kept in frames until thoroughly established.
A. mauritanica (Mediterranean Reed). This is a rare greenhouse species, closely allied to A. Donax, but inferior to it.