Re: Aroids in Art

**&* B* <D*@yaxhampark.co.uk>**

Dear Jason,

Julius is right that Deni Bown is thanking you for sharing the
delightful illustration of 'lords & ladies', and here she is doing it in
person!  Many thanks indeed!

The accompanying discussion took me back to my earliest aroid days when
in my frantic search to find anything written on the family, I came
across Cecil Prime's "Lords and Ladies".  This wonderful book was first
published in 1960 as a special volume in the New Naturalist series.  It
was out of print when I first started ferreting out information on
aroids for my own book, but with perfect timing Dr Prime's widow,
Frances, had it reprinted in 1981 and I obtained a copy from her.  The
second chapter is devoted to the numerous names for this intriguing
plant and is well worth reading.  Have a read too of the final paragraph
of this very special book, which so well combines scientific monograph
with imagination and humour. I quote Dr Prime:

"May I end with a picture of an Aroid which despite all the
multitudinous variations of the family, nature has not yet evolved?  It
is Armchairia Comfortabilis, and it was figured by Edward Lear in his
Laughable Lyrics (1877). It has an obvious and well developed spathe,
and an extremely complicated spadix which consists of a hollowed
receptacle above, lined with tri-radiate markings and bearing in front a
conspicuously serrate margin." 

Hopefully there is someone out there who has the technological know-how,
and access to a copy of Dr Prime's book or The Complete Nonsense of
Edward Lear, who could put this drawing of an armchair arum in a
Photobucket to delight us all further?

Thanks again Jason,

Araceously,

Deni Bown

-----Original Message-----
From: aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com
[aroid-l-bounces@gizmoworks.com] On Behalf Of ju-bo@msn.com
Sent: 24 November 2007 13:08
To: Discussion of aroids
Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Aroids in Art

 Dear Jason,

Thank you so very much for going to the trouble of getting a photo of
the artwork on line so that those of us who have an interest in this
sort of ''aroids in art'' can view it---I KNOW that Deni Bown, Steve
Marak and several others are also thanking you!

What an interesting use of the ''Lorda and Ladies"' legend and motifs!
I was also struck by the fact that even the hooded hunting falconet of
the right hand of the lady also had its feathers made/drawn of the same
''material'' as the garb of the humans, seemingly Arum leaves!
Thanks again, Jason!
Sincerely,

Julius

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:26:15 +0100
 From: "Marek Argent" 
 Subject: Re: [Aroid-l] Aroids in Art
 To: "Discussion of aroids" 
 Message-ID: 
 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
 charset="iso-8859-1";
     reply-type=original

 You could take a photo...

 Marek Argent

Well, of course I thought of that; but I've never yet seen a
photo successfully come through on Aroid-L.  I don't submit
photos often enough to have a website of them.

I have now set it up on Photobucket, for your viewing
pleasure:
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff273/mossytrail/Arum.jpg

Jason Hernandez
Naturalist-at-Large

_______________________________________________
Aroid-L mailing list
Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com
http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l

________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Aroid-L mailing list
Aroid-L@www.gizmoworks.com
http://www.gizmoworks.com/mailman/listinfo/aroid-l