Propagate by division of the clumps in spring or fall.

   Aglaonema

   DESCRIPTION: A. commutatum, 1 ft., from Ceylon and the Philippines, has silver markings on deep-green leaves. A. modestum, to 2 ft., from Kwangtung, is the popular "Chinese evergreen." It has durable, waxy green leaves, oblong, moderately narrow, tapering to a thin tip, and closely set along thin canes. A pictum, 11/2 ft., from Malaya, has dark-green leaves mottled with metallic gray and white. A. pseudo-bracteatum, 1 to 2 ft., from Malaysia, has brightly variegated leaves splashed with creamy white to yellow. Its stems also are cream-colored. A. roebelimi, 2 ft. or more, from Borneo and Malaya, makes a wonderful house plant, very similar in appearance to a dieffenbachia (dumb-cane). This aglaonema is often called schismato-glottis. Its leaves are almost entirely silver except for the dark-green edges and midrib area. A. simplex, \xh ft. or more, from Java, is similar to A. modestum, and may also be called "Chinese evergreen." A. treubii, ixh ft., from the Celebes, has narrow, lance-shaped leaves of light-green with cream to chartreuse variegation.

   CULTURE: Light, semi-shady to shady. Temperature, average house. Humidity, average house, but preferably 30% or more. Soil, equal parts loam, sand, and peat moss; keep moist at all times. A. modestum and A. simplex may be cultivated for long periods in water. Occasionally, sponge the leaves of aglaonemas with clear water to keep them glossy. Propagate by cutting the canelike stems into 2-in. lengths, and inserting them to half their length in damp sand, Perlite, soil, or water. It is best to do this in the spring or early summer.

   Alocasia

   DESCRIPTION: A. cuprea, i ft., from Borneo, has heavy, wavy, prominently veined leaves, dark metallic green above, and maroon-purple beneath. A. watsomana, to 5 ft. or more, from Sumatra, is a magnificent plant with huge, corrugated, leathery, blue-green leaves veined and edged in silver-white, with purple on the reverses.

   These and the many other Aloca-sias are truly exotic plants with heart-shaped leaves of large size, usually displaying striking vein patterns.

   CULTURE: Light, semi-sunny to semi-shady. Temperature, warm. Humidity, 50% or more. Soil, 2 parts peat moss, 1 part chipped charcoal or Perlite; keep evenly moist. Feed regularly. Protect from drafts, or the leaf edges may turn brown. Propagate by removing offsets from mother plant when they are large enough to handle.

   Amorphophallus

   DESCRIPTION: A. bulbifer, 1 ft., from India, is grown primarily as a curiosity, and like the related Hydrosme, may be called "voodoo lily," "devil's-tongue," or "sacred lily of India." The "flower" rises on a leafless stalk, and has a green spathe with rose and yellow outside, yellow-green inside, surrounding a green and pink spadix. The spadix emits such an unpleasant odor that it is often removed. It should be cut out carefully with a sharp knife.

   CULTURE: Same as Hydrosme.