Although we are informed the Caladium escu-lentum was first introduced from tropical America in 1739, there nevertheless seems to be some uncertainty as to whether that part of the world is, in reality, its original home or not. One might naturally infer from its rank and wild abundance in various parts of Africa, where it appears to have flourished from time immemorial, to be indigenous there. The writer has not forgotten the immense area covered with Caladium esculentum, Cyperus, Ehrhartia, Agapanthus, Dracaena, Richardia, San-seviera, etc, which luxuriate about the creeks, lagoons and lowlands on each side of the Orange and Limpopo rivers, in "the dark continent." Its vast quantities thereabouts, is too common to excite wonder, except to the stranger. I have forgotten, if I ever knew, by what name it is there known to the natives. But this much I know of it, that along the Gold and Slave Coast, in tropical Africa, where it grows from eight to ten feet high, the negroes eat it under the name of Eddoes. I also saw it in New South Wales, about the Darling river, and other parts of Australia, where it grew wild, as it does in Texas and Mexico. Again, I have seen the New Zealanders, as well as the inhabitants of Norfolk Island, where it seems to be equally at home, roasting it for food.

As with the maize, it may be considered a traveling plant, and like it, only stops to settle where it finds the climate favorable.