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Pothos (Cingalese name of one)

(the Cingalese name of one of the species; the Pothos of Theophrastus is an entirely different plant). ORD. Aroideoe (Araceoe). Of this genus, about forty species have been enumerated, but, according to the "Genera Plantarum," not more than twenty are really distinct. They are much-branched, tall, stove, climbing shrubs, with the lower branchlets rooting, and those at the summit spreading, and inhabit Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and (one species) Madagascar. Spathe small, ovate or conchoid, rarely elongated, reflexed, green, accrescent or persistent; spadix shorter than the spathe, long-stipitate, clavate, globose, or ovoid, often decurved, sometimes twisted or flexuous, clothed with perfect flowers, each of which has a perianth of six segments, fornicate at apex; peduncles leafy, sheathed, or naked. Leaves distichous, obliquely linear or ovate-lanceolate, the blade sometimes deficient; petioles winged or widened, and leafy. The species described below are the only ones worth growing, the others being more curious than ornamental. For culture, see Anthurium.

P. acaulis (stemless). A garden synonym of Anthurium Hookeri. P. argyraea (silvery). A garden synonym of Scindapsus argyraea. P. aurea (golden). l. strikingly variegated, of a dark green, boldly and irregularly marked by bands or fantastic-shaped blotches of creamy-yellow, here and there suffused with pale yellowish-green, cordate, ovate, acute, thick, fleshy. Solomon Isles, 1880. A very distinct and remarkable plant, of free growth; "probably some species of Scindapsus or Raphidophora" (N. E. Brown). (I. H. 387.) P. cannaefolia (Canna-leaved). A synonym of Spathiphyllum cannaefolium. P. celatocaulis (concealed-stemmed).* l. oblique, sessile, with a short, clasping sheath, broadly elliptic in outline, very obtuse at apex, and cordate at base, rich dark green; under surface pale green, and minutely crystalline. North-west Borneo, 1880. A handsome climber, lying perfectly flat upon the surface over which it climbs; it is a most desirable plant for covering walls, trunks of tree-ferns, &c. As the flowers of the plant are unknown, it is far from certain that it belongs to the genus Pothos. (F. d. S. 2419-20; I. H. n. s., 496.) P. foetidus (fetid). A synonym of Symplocarpus foetidus. P. Seemanni (Seemann's). fl., spathe ovate or ovate-oblong, apiculate; spadix slightly longer than the stipes; peduncles short. May. l. lanceolate, acute, obtuse at base; petioles more or less cuneate, auriculate-rotundate, shorter than the blade. China, 1821. (B. R. 1337, under name of P. scandens.)