Bot. Also 9 calladium. [mod.L. adaptation, by Rumph, 1750, in Herb. Amboinense, V. 318, of the Malay name kélādy (Forbes Watson) of Caladium (now Colocasia) esculentum. The genus in its present botanical acceptation was established by Ventenat in 1800, when, by a carelessness too frequent in botanical nomenclature, the actual species to which the name kélādy belonged, was excluded from the Caladiums and made a Colocasia.]
A genus of plants belonging to the Arum family, grown in this country as hot-house plants, but cultivated in their native regions for their underground corms, which contain much starch.
1845. Penny Cycl. Supp., I. 264/1. Caladium arborescens … yields a great quantity of starch.
1858. Hogg, Veg. Kingd., 797.
1881. Mrs. C. Praed, Policy & Passion, I. 270. The verandah was adorned with stands of choice ferns and calladiums.
1882. Garden, 4 March, 145/3. Caladiums … will now be starting rapidly into growth.
1885. Lady Brassey, The Trades, 70. Caladiums and ferns growing in the wildest profusion.
