caladium

American  

[kuh-lay-dee-uhm] / kəˈleɪ di əm /

noun

1. any of several tropical American plants of the genus Caladium, of the arum family, cultivated for their variegated, colorful leaves.

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caladium British  

/ kəˈleɪdɪəm /

noun

1. any of various tropical plants of the aroid genus Caladium, which are widely cultivated as potted plants for their colourful variegated foliage

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Etymology

Origin of caladium

1835–45; < New Latin: originally coined as genus name for taro on basis of Malay kəladi (spelling keladi ) araceous plant; see -ium

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caladium

He went to the corral and marked the animals and plants: cow, goat, pig, hen, cassava, caladium, banana.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

As he entered the hot-house, he saw under the large leaves of a caladium near the jet d'eau, Delmar lying on his face on the sofa covered with linen cloth.

From Sentimental Education Vol 1 by Gustave Flaubert

Close to my face, so near that it startled me for a moment, over the curved length of a long narrow caladium leaf, there came suddenly two brilliant lights.

From Jungle Peace by William Beebe

There are some other plants which have underground parts that are commonly called bulbs but which are not bulbs at all; for example, the gladiolus and the caladium, or elephant's ear.

From Agriculture for Beginners Revised Edition by Charles William Burkett

Close to my face, so near that it startled me for a moment, over the curved length of a long, narrow caladium leaf, there came suddenly two brilliant lights.

From Atlantic Classics, Second Series by Jane Addams

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