Caladium (Elephant Ears)

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Caladium (Elephant Ears)

***** Location: Tropical Areas, Trinidad and Tobago
***** Season: Tropical Rainy Season
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation


http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Caladsp.htm

The Caladium or Elephant Ears,
left to thrive naturally, will appear as if by magic out of the soil; throwing up large heartshaped decorative leaves, on thin langly succulent stalks; around the last week of May; making the statement Rainy season - is - a - coming.
The leaves range from bright pink and green, to red and green, and toning down into the range-- white and green.

They love the rain and can grow and flourish into leaf sizes of about thirty seven by thirty two centimeters (37x32cm). Around late July early August they blossom a sort of lily which looks very much like the bloom of the Chinese Evergreen (Aglonema commutatum).

Late September they start drying out, the root will remain in the soil until next May. When they start their beautiful magic all over again.

Gillena Cox

Link with more text and a lot of pictures:

http://www.botany.com/8.5.gif
http://www.botany.com/8.44.gif
http://www.botany.com/caladium.htm

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Mass plantings of caladiums create a focal point in the landscape. They provide a striking contrast with the green foliage of other plants, especially when planted in the foreground.
Caladiums need protection from full sun for best growth and color. Some newer varieties will tolerate full sun for a couple of hours daily, but all prefer dappled or moderate shade.
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1160.htm

It is also a poisonous plant:
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR, OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Caladsp.htm

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU



summer shade—
one star in a rainbow
of caladium

nss
On this link there is also the beautiful photo by Gillena Cox.
http://home.alc.co.jp/db/owa/PH_detail?photo_sn_in=1236



after the cats fight
elephant ears unearthed
lay prostrate

Gillena Cox, 2003

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tropical storm
elephant's ears bob
in the wind

Cindy
http://haiku.cc.ehime-u.ac.jp/~shiki/shiki-workshop.archive/html/199808/0132.html

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Related words

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Editor: Isabelle Prondzynski

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Gabi Greve/Isabelle Prondzynski
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