Sabine ss
rate
oe
$a:
phy
paaitcicfets
pataenears
peal fs
bitte S|
teage ata
sito
EE
a
eas
Sipe
eae es
eee eee
cen arte
¥
NY q
‘
ae n af
< 5
" , 2s SY ,
(a's Yj “4
*, i4\ Fi
Iz
| CO Sats f
1 ee
THE BULB BOOK
ab ou LB BOOK
OR
BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
Pere eRe Ome N) ATRe cS hO VE CAINS
GREENHOUSE
CONTAINING PARTICULARS AS TO DESCRIPTIONS
CULTURE, PROPAGATION, ETC. OF PBEANTS
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVING
BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS, OR, RHIZOMES
(ORCHIDS EXCLUDED)
BY SO EIN = Vibe AGh Eek Res
AUTHOR OF ‘‘A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS,” ‘‘ FRENCH MARKET GARDENING,”
‘© BEAUTIFUL BULBOUS PLANTS,” ‘* BEAUTIFUL ROSES,” ‘* BEAUTIFUL TREES AND
SHRUBS,” ‘BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS,” ‘‘SCHOOL, COTTAGE, AND
ALLOTMENT GARDENING,” ETC.
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
LIBRAL
KEW Youre
|
LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
1911
THIS VOLUME ON
BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
FROM ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE
IS DEDICATED
TO
WILLIAM WATSON
CURATOR OF THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW
IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AS A CULTIVATOR
AND AUTHOR, AND OF HIS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE
WELFARE OF PROFESSIONAL HORTICULTURISTS
CONTENTS
FoREWORDS é : ‘ :
INTRODUCTION : : : :
Buss, Corms, TuBERS, RHIZOMES ‘ ; :
Functions oF Buiss, Corms, TUBERS, AND RHIZOMES
CoNnTRACTILE Roots
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR
DerrtH oF PLANTING BULBS : :
CULTIVATION UNDER GLASS
Lirtine AND Stormnc BULBS
PROPAGATION OF BuLBous AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
Forcinc AND ReEeTARDING BuLBous PLANTS
BuLBous AND TuBEROUS PLANTS FoR Cut FLOWERS.
Buisous PLANTS FoR CoLD GREENHOUSES AND WInDOw-BoxeEs
NATURALISING BuLBous PLANTS IN GRASSLAND AND SHRUBBERIES
Harpy AnD Hatr-Harpy Burizsous AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
TENDER BuLBOoUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS :
FREAKS oF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS .
CLASSIFICATION OF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS.
GENERA AND SPECIES DESCRIBED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
PUBLICATIONS QUOTED AND CONSULTED
GLOSSARY
INDEX : é ‘ ) ‘
ix
ra) SV EPE
* 4 ele Pie ee
7 we
aa pS eae Oia dt
ee | eee
= ee ee |
| a re
; 1 | Pe ee
? " - cr OP pao as
Seqneiihs ey Wapree™ tb
LIBRARY
REW YORE
LOT ANICAL
FOREWORDS
There was a time when bulbous plants of all kinds received the
attention of a considerable section of horticulturists. Dean Herbert
was the hiyh priest of the cult, among the most notable of his disciples
being Wilson Saunders, Joad, Michael Foster, Peter Barr, Sir Charles
Strickland, and Max Leichtlin. They collected and cultivated bulbous
plants in the sume spirit as predominates among the leading fanciers
of orchids to-day. But with this difference, there wasn’t any gambling
in bulbs. There are, of course, certain kinds of bulbs which rank
among the most popular garden plants; but there are scarcely any
collectors of species outside botanical gardens. Bulbous plants of the
Lily, Lris, and Amaryllis familtes are both numerous and varied.
Many of them are reputedly dificult to cultivate, yet not more so than
orchids used to be. The worst in this respect are the species which
grow naturally in intense sunshine and have a definite period of dry
rest. Such are many of the Crinums, Buphanes, and the Xiphiod
Irises. Years ago, bulb fancters would meet and discuss the merits
and requirements of their favourites in the most enlightening and
2 stimulating manner. But how many of the present-day cultivators
< show any inclination to do this? The plants are out of favour, pre-
sumably because they are not easy to manage, an objection that is
es generally dissipated by a better knowledge of the essential requirements.
“2 Gardening that 1s worthy of the name has higher aims than the
5 cultivation of the vulyar crowd of plants which anybody can manage.
gy Lhe development of orchids as yarden plants may be taken as a proof
= of what can be accomplished by persevering experiment.
Such genera as Lilium, Gladiolus, Tulipa, Narcissus, Hyacinthus,
oy Crocus, Iris, Galanthus, Hippeastrum, and Nerine have been to a large
en extent conquered by the arts of cultivation and breeding; and there
xi
‘ fis € sf Peek ban aa
FOREWORDS
are many more which by the application of the same arts would
yreld equally successful results. For example, there 1s an almost
unworked mine of wealth in Crinum, Watsonia, Cyrtanthus,
Hemanthus, Hymenocallis, Phedranassa, Zephyranthes, Ornitho-
galum, and Oxalis, genera that are particularly rich in species of
horticultural merit. They and many others are practically unknown
only because they have never had their opportunity. It is only recently
that Freesia, Lachenalia, and Nerine have caught the popular eye ;
and the oldest of us can remember the advent of Narcissus as the
glory of the British garden in spring.
Mr Weathers’ book is,in my opinion, a praiseworthy attempt to
open up the bulb world to the horticultural explorer. During his
many years service at Kew, Mr Weathers had exceptional opportunities
to acquire a knowledge of the contents of the large collection there,
and the notes and drawings then and afterwards made he has now
turned to useful account. I take the liberty to recommend his book to
all cultivators who take an “intelligent interest in plants that are
attractive, either in floral characters, habit, or peculiarities of form—
qualities which are prominent in the majority of the species which he
has described and figured.
W. WATSON.
xii
INTRODUCTION |
THE cultivation of all kinds of plants having bulbs, corms, tubers,
or rhizomes is now so extended that a volume devoted entirely to
this important phase of Horticulture may be looked upon almost
as a necessity. Coming as these plants do from all parts of the
world, it requires no little skill on the part of the gardener—
professional as well as amateur—to succeed in their cultivation.
The inclusion of tuberous and rhizomatous plants in this volume
makes it more comprehensive than if it were confined to bulbous
plants proper, all of which belong to one of the two great groups
of flowering plants known as Monocotyledons. As almost any
plant with a swollen root-stock or thickish creeping roots is called
“bulbous” in popular parlance, plants with such peculiarities have
been considered in the present work. In this way about fifty
different natural orders of flowering plants alone have been
included; and these fifty orders include over four hundred
different genera, and some three thousand different species and
varieties. It will thus be seen that even in this age of specialities,
the bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants form quite a respectable, if
not indeed an extensive group by themselves.
Considering these plants from a geographical point of view,
it will be noticed by a reference to their native countries that they
not only come from every part of the globe—from the tropical,
subtropical, and temperate regions—but also from the highest
altitudes and the lowest plains. In such a range of bulbous vegeta-
tion, many temperatures, climatic differences, and soil variations
naturally exist. The gardener therefore has to make himself more
or less acquainted with the peculiar requirements of any particular
plant, if he wishes to achieve anything like success. He must
recognise that a plant from the tropics is not necessarily a subject
to be grown in a hothouse or a greenhouse, unless it comes from
the plains, or is found only at low elevations. Many mistakes
xili
INTRODUCTION
have been made in the past because the various altitudes at which
plants grow naturally were either unknown or were ignored. Thus
it happened that plants from the tops of the Andes of Ecuador,
Colombia, or Peru, although within the Tropic of Capricorn and
beneath an equatorial sun, were found to die with warm house
treatment, while they flourished under a temperate or almost hardy
regime. The proper temperature, etc., for a plant in cultivation
may be therefore more easily gauged if the gardener possesses
accurate information as to the condition in which it grows in a
state of nature. Owing to these variations of altitude and
temperature, it has become necessary to divide bulbous plants
into four main groups, namely: hardy, half-hardy, greenhouse, and
hothouse or stove. In the following pages under each genus such
particulars as to the native habitat of each species are given as
will enable the gardener to arrive at a decision as to the
temperature most likely to suit his plants.
While temperature of course plays an important part in plant
cultivation, the questions of soils, moisture, drought, etc., have
also to be considered. Here again a knowledge of the local natural
surroundings will give one a fairly good idea as to what compost
should be used, and whether much or little water is to be given. A
plant that grows naturally in a peaty or marshy soil would be likely
to flourish in a similar compost, but would in all probability die
in a very short time if planted in heavy clay or coarse sand,
although it might do fairly well in a moist loamy soil. On the
other hand, plants from desert regions where sandy wastes abound
will probably require a hot, dryish atmosphere, although they may
enjoy moisture at the root during the period of active growth.
Others again from the lower elevations of tropical regions can
scarcely be given too much heat and moisture in conjunction with
a rich and unctuous soil. To enable the gardener to judge which
set of conditions is most likely to suit any particular group of
bulbous or tuberous plants, this volume has been specially written,
and the author hopes that it may prove itself worthy of frequent
reference on the part of the intelligent cultivators in all parts of
the British Islands.
A glance at the page of Contents will give the reader a kind of
bird’s-eye view of the scope of the work. In the descriptive portion
the various genera and species have been dealt with in alphabetical
order, as it is probably the most generally convenient. Those plant-
lovers, however, of a studious or analytical turn of mind, will find
xiv
INTRODUCTION
the natural relationships of the different genera by turning to the
Chapter on Classification.
The derivation of the names of the genera, and the natural orders
or families to which they belong have been given, in the hope that
the information will be not only interesting in itself, but also of an
instructive character.
It is also hoped that the numerous drawings ey of which
are reproduced from sketches made twenty-three and twenty-four
years ago) will serve a similar purpose, and help to make clear any
little obscurities in the text. With a view to encouraging still
further research, references to coloured plates and good figures in
standard botanical and horticultural works have also been added
after the descriptions of many species and varieties.
JOHN WEATHERS.
THE, BULB BOOK
BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS, RHIZOMES
OuTsIDE the ranks of botanists and skilled gardeners, much
uncertainty and no little confusion prevail as to what constitutes
a bulb, a corm, a tuber, ora rhizome. It may be well therefore to
say a few words about each, with a view to making things plainer in
regard to these matters.
BULBS.—A bulb is a special kind of bud bearing a number of
thickened fleshy or scaly leaves closely packed together and seated
upon a flattened compressed or disc-like woody stem, from the under-
surface and edges of which roots are produced during growth.
Examples of true bulbs that will fit this description may be seen in the
Onion, Tulip, Hyacinth, Daffodil, Snowdrop, Squill, the Snowflakes,
and many others. In most cases the fleshy leaves are rolled round
each other; the bulbs are then said to be tunicated. In the case of
the Liliums, however, in which the thickened leaves are overlapping
each other in a spiral fashion round the main axis, the bulbs are said
to be scaly or imbricated. The drawings will give a good idea as to
the difference between “tunicated” and “imbricated” or “scaly
bulbs.” Figs. 1 to 3 represent the former; Fig. 4 represents the
latter.
CORMS.—These are often described as “ solid” bulbs, owing to the
fact that in many cases they bear a superficial resemblance to bulbs
proper. In many cases, however (¢.7., the tuberous Begonia and the
Cyclamen), the term “corm” is very loosely and erroneously used
when speaking of the tubers of these plants. The one obvious
difference between a true bulb and a true corm is, that the latter is
quite solid, and has neither tunicated, imbricated, nor scaly leaves
seated on a compressed disc-like stem, a section of which is shown
in Fig. 1. The corm is a rounded or flattish stem on which traces of
the leaf-stalks or bases may be seen. Another great difference
1 A
THE BULB BOOK
between the bulb and the corm consists in different methods of
growth. Many bulbs will grow for years and produce numerous
offsets. Corms, however, dwindle
away and shrivel up each year
after having yielded up their
store of nourishment for the pro-
duction of new flowers and
leaves; and their place is taken
Fic. 1.— Galtonia candicans, bulb section
ofsame. (4.)
34! 5h
ai\ ‘ i
i Oh
pi i \ A) \
Hi
Fic. 2.—Scilla stbirica, cross and vertical
sections of bulb.
1 ff
Fic. 4.—Imbricated or scaly bulb of Liliwm
Fic. 8.—Nothoscordum, bulb and section. candidum. (%.)
by quite new corms, which have been developed by the action of
the leaves in the daylight. Thus, the corms of Crocus (Fig. 5)
and Gladiolus (Fig 6), ete., that are put into the soil are not the
same as those that are taken up after growth has ceased. They
are quite new vegetative creations,
Although corms and bulbs differ from each other in structure and
2
BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS, RHIZOMES
vegetation, it is remarkable that both of them are confined to one
particular class of flowering plants—that known botanically as
Monocotyledons. These are plants
that are easily recognised by
having (1) leaves with parallel or
curvilinear veins; (2) the parts
of the flowers (ze, the petals,
Fic. 5.—Crocus, showing new corm on top Fic. 6.—Gladiolus, two new corms over old
of old one. one, with ‘‘ spawn” at base.
stamens, and carpels) arranged in three’s or six’s; and (3) when raised
from seed, by having only one seed-leaf.
If these characteristics are borne in mind there will be no
difficulty in distinguishing a true bulb or a true corm.
TUBERS,—A tuber may be described as a short and more or less
thickened or swollen shoot or stem furnished with “eyes” or buds.
1
Fic. 7.—Ozulis crenata. Fia. 8.—Tropewolum tuberosum. (%-)
EXAMPLES OF TUBERS.
Good examples are seen in the Potato and the Jerusalem Artichoke ;
others are the tuberous Begonia, the Cyclamen, the Anemone, Ranun-
culus, Aconite, the Arum Lily, Caladium, some Tropzolums, etc. The
Dahlia and herbaceous Pony are examples in which the true roots
are swollen and of a tuberous nature, but they contain no vegetative
buds. These are borne at the base of the old flower-stems, portions
of which should be always retained when the plants are lifted and
stored away. Examples of tubers are shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
3
THE BULB BOOK
It should be noted that while all true bulbs and corms are
confined to the Monocotyledons, tuberous plants have a much wider
range. They are to be found not only amongst Monocotyledons, but
also amongst the other great group of flowering plants known as
Dicotyledons. These are generally recognised
by having (1) net-veined leaves; (2) parts of
the flower (ie., the sepals, petals, stamens,
carpels) in four’s or five’s, or multiples of
them; (3) and when raised from seed, by
having two seed-leaves. An apparent con-
Fia. 10.—Seedling Cyclamen, showing aberration
Fic. 9.—ltchardia ethtopica. (4.) from ordinary dicotyledonous type.
tradiction to this arrangement is seen in the seedlings of Cyclamen,
as shown in the sketch (Fig. 10). When the seeds first germinate,
only one seed-leaf is apparent; later, a second one much smaller than
the first appears, and with advance in age one leaf succeeds another
rapidly until the top of the tuber is furnished with a good supply.
RHIZOMES.—A rhizome is a shoot or stem that grows more or
less horizontally, and usually beneath the surface of the soil. Many
plants have rhizomes, some thickened and somewhat tuberous,
others slender. Good examples of plants with thick rhizomes are
the German and Florentine Irises or “ Flags” (Fig. 11), and Solomon’s
Seal (Fig. 12); while the Lily of the Valley (see Fig. 99, p. 149)
may be taken as an example of a plant with slender rhizomes.
In the Tritonia or Montbretia (Fig. 13) we have an example of
plant in which both corms and rhizomes are developed. It will be
seen from the sketch that the corms are not actually placed upon
each other as in the Crocus and Gladiolus, but are separated by a
kind of runner-like rhizome, some joints of which swell into a corm
if sufficient nourishment has been elaborated by the leaves.
BULBS, CORMS, 'TUBERS, RHIZOMES
While it is easy in many cases to distinguish the true bulbs,
corms, tubers, and rhizomes, there are instances in which the swollen
portion of the plant seems
to be intermediate between
one or the other. The root-
stock of the Tigridias or Tiger
Flowers, for example, is called
a “corm,” but a reference to
Fic. 11.—Rhizomes of German Iris. (3.) Fic. 12.—Rhizomes of Solomon’s Seal. (4.)
Fig. 14 shows that it is more like an ordinary tunicated bulb.
The root-stocks of Erythro-
nium (Fig. 15), Colchicum (Fig.
16), and Bulbocodium (Figs. 17
and 18) are also known as corms.
It will be seen, however, that
Fia. 18.—Corms and rhizomes of T’ritonta Fia. 14.—Tigridia, bulb and section
(Montbretia) crocosemiflora. (%.) of same. (4.)
the vegetation of these plants is not like that of the Crocus or
5
THE BULB BOOK
Gladiolus. The new corms, instead of developing on top of the old
ones, are produced at a lower depth from a downward growth.
Fic. 15.—Corm or bulb of Erythronium, showing Fic. 16.—Corm of Colchicum, showing new
new lower growth to right. growth to left.
In this way there is no likelihood of the new corms coming too
near the surface to be injured by frost, ete.
Fias. 17, 18.—Corm and section of Bulbocodium, showing new
lower growths at side.
This volume is devoted to those plants which have either bulbs,
corms, tubers or tuberous roots, and rhizomes, and therefore embraces
many families of flowering plants (both Monocotyledons and
Dicotyledons) from all parts of the world. Orchids—a large and
important family requiring a volume to themselves—are excluded.
FUNCTIONS OF BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS,
AND RHIZOMES
Apart from the plants described in this volume being characterised
by having either bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes, they all agree in
one important respect—they are all herbaceous plants and they are
all perennial. That is to say, ad aérial parts (flower-stems and
FUNCTIONS OF BULBS, CORMS, ETC.
leaves) are soft and herb-like in texture, and there is nothing woody
about them as seen in trees and shrubs, and their underground
organs may live for several years. The possible exceptions are
Beschorneria and Testudinaria, which have swollen woody bases.
It will prevent misunderstanding to state that perennial herbaceous
plants! may be divided into various groups. Thus they may be
either (1) hardy, (2) half-hardy, or (3) tender—each group requiring
different culture, treatment, and temperature. Again, herbaceous
perennials may be either (1) deciduous, in which the floral stems
and leaves die down every year, and the root-stock has a period of
rest (asin Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Begonias, Pzeonies, Solomon’s
Seal, Arum Lilies, etc., etc.); or they may be (2) evergreen, in which
the plants are always in a state of growth, and have foliage at all
periods of the year (as with Pancratiums, many Crinums, some
Irises, etc.).
It may be well to bear these distinctions in mind, as there is a
popular and consequently erroneous impression that all herbaceous
plants are hardy and die down to the ground each year.
We may now consider why certain plants are provided with
bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes, We have already seen that the
normal stem has been reduced in the case of the bulb to a very
small compass—a mere disc-like mass with the thick fleshy leaves
densely arranged upon it. Ifa bulbofa Tulip, Hyacinth, or Daffodil
is cut through vertically and compared with a ripened bud of a
Horse-chestnut, Lilac, or Ash, it will be seen that they are all very
similar in structure. In the centre will be found the miniature
flower-stem with its incipient blossoms packed away into the
smallest possible compass, and carefully protected with the envelop-
ing scales — really leaves specially modified for this particular
purpose. In the case of bulbs, however, which are detached and
independent bodies (unlike the buds of the Horse-chestnut, etc.), the
scale leaves are not only protectors ; they are also storehouses in
which food and nourishment have been stored away by the green
aérial leaves before these withered and died. The corm or solid
“bulb,” and also the tuber and rhizome utilise the stem, and not
modified leaves, in which to store up their nourishment in the same
way for the development of future growth. Consequently, season
after season this work is going on, and as the older storehouses
1“ Annuals” and “ Biennials” of all kinds are necessarily herbaceous in
character, but are not considered in this volume, as they have neither bulbs,
corms, tubers, nor rhizomes.
7
THE BULB BOOK
(either as bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes) decay and die, they are
replaced by new ones. If it were not so, especially in our climate,
there would be great danger in many cases of the plants dying out
altogether—especially as many of them are difficult or impossible to
raise from seeds. When there seems to be any risk of a plant being
unable to reproduce itself readily by means of seeds, Nature has
endowed it with the power of multiplying itself in other ways which
are considered under the Chapter on “ Propagation.”
The point to bear in mind, however, at present is that the new
bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes underground can only be produced
by the healthy assimilative action of the leaves, and the absorptive
powers of the roots.
CONTRACTILE ROOTS
In connection with the annual reproduction of new corms in
such plants as Crocus, Gladiolus, ete., it is interesting to notice
a very extraordinary action of the roots. During the period of
growth if a corm of a Gladiolus or Tritonia (Fig. 19) be taken out of
the ground carefully it will be noticed that there are two kinds of
roots present—(1) the fibrous
feeding or absorbing roots, and
(2) thicker ringed roots. The
latter play a very important
part in keeping the new corms
at a proper distance beneath the
surface of the soil. It is obvious
that by the superposition of the
new corms on top of the old ones
year after year, there would be
a danger eventually of them
coming through the surface of
the ground. They would thus be
exposed to the dangers of frost,
SY B\ary Wl! } etc. It is well known, however,
Via. 19.—Tritonia Pottst, showing new corms that neither corms nor bulbs, no
She conbeaeHle neg matter how many years they
have been in the soil, ever come through the ground. On the
contrary, they seem to bury themselves deeper and deeper, thus
keeping away from the frost, and in surroundings several degrees
warmer than the soil immediately at the surface.
8
le
\
NeValii
j Zoi NN NY) Ue
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR
Corms and bulbs are kept down in the soil in this way by means
of special roots called “contractile.” These are the thickish ringed
roots referred to and shown in the sketches (see Figs. 3, 6, 14, 19).
It appears that when the new corms or bulbs have developed fairly
well, these contractile roots have already pushed their way deeper
into the soil, lower than the older corms. In due course they begin
to contract, and in this way they exert sufficient force to pull down
the new corms to a lower level, perhaps even lower than the parents
were the previous season. The marvellous power possessed by these
contractile roots is one of the most mysterious functions of bulbous
plants, and it is only another instance showing how carefully and
beautifully everything was thought of “at the beginning.”
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR
SOILS AND COMPOSTS
If this volume were confined to the consideration of hardy plants
alone, it would be a comparatively simple matter dealing with the
soil. But as we are dealing not only with hardy plants that may be
always grown in the open air, but also with those that must be
sheltered in a greenhouse and hothouse and are often grown in pots,
it becomes necessary to take a wider view of the subject, treating
the outdoor cultivation and the indoor separately.
Generally speaking, most of the hardy bulbous, tuberous, and
rhizomatous plants (of which a list is given at p. 32) will flourish
in any well-drained, deeply dug or trenched and well-manured
garden soil. Indeed, some like the tuberous Sunflowers, the
Bocconias, the Aconites, Doronicums, Hemerocallis, etc., will grow in
any but the very worst sour and swampy soil, so vigorous is the
action of their roots. Advantage may be taken of such coarse or
free-growing plants to improve soil that is generally regarded as
poor and infertile. They will find not only nourishment in it, but
owing to the action of ,their rapidly spreading roots, they bring
about a much better condition of the impoverished soil after a
season or two of growth.
No one, however, wishes to be saddled with poor and hungry or
swampy soil if better can be had. The ideal garden soil is one
called loam—a fairly well-balanced mixture of clay and sand, with
a fair amount of humus (or decayed organic material), and a certain
9
THE BULB BOOK
proportion of lime. Such a soil will be easy to dig or trench; will
retain a sufficient amount of the necessary moisture without
becoming water-logged with sour and stagnant liquid; and will give
generally good results. According to the different kinds of plants
grown, however, it may have to be modified in places to meet certain
peculiarities. Thus, the addition of more peat or leaf soil may be
necessary for some plants, while more sand, grit, loam, or clay may
be required for others.
For true bulbous plants, anything savouring of wet, heavy, clayey
soil is unsuitable. It is cold, wet, and stodgy, and very difficult to
turn over. But if bulbous plants are to be grown in such a soil,
turned over it must be, and that to a depth of 2 or 3 feet into
the bargain. To bring a heavy, wet, clayey soil into anything like a
proper tilth, it should be trenched about 3 feet deep, bringing the
soaked and soddened bottom soil to the surface, there to be relieved
of its sour and superfluous moisture, and to have its clods and
particles sweetened and broken down by exposure to the weather.
Very few people possess the courage to do this; and the great
majority—speaking with all the confidence of those who have never
done such a thing—will at once condemn the operation as being
unsound both in theory and in practice. Rather than do it once,
they prefer to be troubled for years with a cold, wet, and hungry
subsoil that robs the upper layer of all its heat and most of its
value for growing purposes. Bulbous or other plants on such a
miserable soil reflect its condition in their own wretched appearance.
Where, however, a wet or clayey soil has been deeply trenched,
and has had a good supply of manure, and grit or sand incorporated
with it, a wonderful improvement takes place even in a few months.
The superfluous water trickles downwards to the lower regions and
no longer steals the sun’s heat from the roots of the plants; the
temperature is consequently raised, and this in turn reacts upon the
tender living material (the protoplasm in the tips of the roots of the
plants). The grit will absorb the heat from the sun, and the clayey
particles and manure will hold it between them and prevent its rapid
radiation at night-time. The gases of the atmosphere—the oxygen,
nitrogen, and carbonic acid—will enter more readily into the soil, and
in conjunction with the rain and moisture will dissolve the mineral
and metallic food so necessary for the growth of plants. By day and
by night the temperature of a heavy soil treated in the way mentioned
will be more equable, being neither too hot nor too cold, nor too wet
or too dry. Another advantage is that there will be comparativel
S 0
|
CULTIVATION IN THE OPEN AIR
few weeds, and if the hoe is kept fairly well in use, there will be
little or no trouble from insect pests.
An improvement in a wet, heavy soil may be accelerated by the
addition of quicklime to the surface after trenching and manuring
About a bushel of quicklime may be spread in small heaps over
every 30 square yards of ground. Each little heap should be
covered with some of the wet soil and left for about ten days.
During this time the moisture from the soil will be absorbed by
the lime, which thus becomes slaked and powdery. It is then easy
to spread the heaps of soil and slaked lime evenly over the surface,
but not dug in. As time goes on the lime gradually dissolves and
sinks into the soil, and, coming in contact with the buried manure,
liberates fresh food, and encourages the development of those
mysterious soil bacteria which are so essential to good cultivation.
Whenever a new garden is being started, or where it is intended
to renovate an old one and do things properly, it will be found best
to adopt the practice of deep cultivation. All surface weeds and
rubbish can be easily disposed of by burying them in the trenches
as the work proceeds—the rank, green, and undecayed refuse being
put at the very bottom, the best-rotted material being retained for
placing in the last trench near the top.
Once a garden soil has been treated somewhat in the way indicated,
there will be no necessity to disturb it so deeply again for some few
years. Indeed it would be impossible to do so when once it is
cropped with bulbous and other plants that are to remain for
years.
In the case of old gardens and old flower-borders, however, that
have become overgrown with plants, and in which the upper soil has
become more or less exhausted, the best thing to do is to have all
plants and bulbs taken out, preferably in early autumn, and then
have the ground deeply trenched and manured, bringing the under-
soil to the surface, and placing the top spit beneath to give it a rest
and time to recuperate its lost strength.
DEPTH FOR PLANTING BULBS
In the following pages it will be noticed that the usual sizes or
diameters of most of the bulbous plants are given, and that these
vary from 4 inch to 2, 3, 4, or more inches. . So far as planting bulbs
that are to be grown under glass is concerned there is practically no
question of depth involved, as they are nearly all so placed in the
11
THE BULB BOOK
soil that the tops are either level with the surface, slightly below
it, or a little above it.
In the case of hardy bulbs, however, that are grown in the open
air and are planted in the autumn, the conditions are not identical.
There is no protection from frost on the surface of the soil, and rats
and mice and other marauders would more easily destroy bulbs on or
near the surface. The main point involved, however, is one of
protection from frost. As the bulbs vary so much in size, some
being very small and some very large, it becomes necessary to plant
them at various depths, according to their size. It would never do
to plant a Crocus corm or Snowdrop bulb so deeply as the large
bulb of a Lilium. But how is one to know the proper depth for
the many kinds of bulbs in cultivation? By the adoption of this
simple rule:—Plant a bulb, corm, or tuber in the open air at a
depth about equal to three times its own diameter; or, in other
words, cover the bulb, corm, or tuber with twice its own depth or
diameter of soil.
CULTIVATION UNDER GLASS
Although the preparation of the soil for the reception of outdoor
hardy bulbous and tuberous plants may entail a good deal of time
and labour at first, it is easy when compared with the trouble and
expense of cultivating plants in greenhouses and hothouses. Here
the soil has to be brought from a distance, and the wise gardener
will make arrangements to have stacks of good turfy loam (the top spit
from a piece of pasture land), peat, and leaf-mould always at hand;
in addition to which there should always be a good supply of sharp
silver or river sand available. Different sizes of pots and pans must
also be purchased ; and sieves or riddles of 4-inch, }-inch, and 1-inch
mesh will also be handy for sifting and mixing the various composts
that will be required from time to time.
The operations of growing plants in pots or even in borders or
beds of soil under glass are much more intricate and detailed than
those in the open air. The pots or other receptacles used should be
quite clean to begin with, when any fresh potting is necessary.
Pots that have been in use for a year or two often become covered
with a greasy slime on the outside. This makes them not only
unsightly, but also difficult to handle; besides which the passage of
air through the pores of the burned clay is rendered difficult
or impossible, This means a sar amount of harm to the roots
~
CULTIVA'TION UNDER GLASS
of the plants, which require to have as much fresh air at their
disposal for breathing purposes as the stems and leaves. Harthen-
ware pots, etc., therefore, should be kept fairly clean, and this can
only be done by washing them. In a garden, boys are generally
utilised for the purposes of “ potwashing,” as well as other multifarious
duties unsuitable for men. The usual method is to soak the dirty
pots for a few hours or days in tubs or tanks of water. This loosens
the slime and dirt, and it is then more easily removed with a fair
amount of “elbow grease” and a scrubbing brush. In my young
days in the nursery even a scrubbing brush was not provided, and
the dirt had to be removed with a piece of old matting and some
ashes from the ashpits. To wash 1000 3-in. pots (60’s) or 800 5-in.
pots was considered a fair day’s work from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M, and stand
them out to dry into the bargain. Potwashing is just as simple now
as then, but the same importance is not attached to it—especially in
market nurseries. In these a “rub round” with a wisp of hay or
old matting is often sufficient except for some of the choicer crops.
Potwashing-machines, however, are now in existence, and are used
in some establishments, private and otherwise.
Crocking Pots.—This is another more or less essential operation
when growing plants in pots. It consists in placing a layer of
broken pieces of pots in the bottom of the pots, over a larger and
flatter piece known technically as a “stopper.” This stopper
should be as flat as possible, but many gardeners like to have it
curved with the convex side uppermost. The object of a flat stopper
is to make it more difficult for worms to get into soil from the hole
in the bottom. The presence of worms is most undesirable, owing to
the runs or channels they make in the soil, and through which the
water passes freely without wetting the main body of compost.
Therefore a flat stopper is much more likely to keep them out than
a curved one; and this is a point worth considering when plants are
placed on earthen beds or stages, or in the open air for a time.
The main object of crocking pots is, of course, to secure
adequate drainage for the soil. Unless the water is allowed to
pass away freely, it would remain in the soil, and after a few
more waterings had taken place, the hole in the bottom of the
pot would become silted up and blocked. The result would be that
no more fresh air could enter the soil, and this would become
soured and poisonous to the roots of the plants owing to the fetid
stagnant moisture and decaying organic material.
It is an easy matter to see when the drainage of a pot is
13
THE BULB BOOK
imperfect. The water, instead of passing through the soil
readily, will remain for hours on the upper surface, waiting to be
evaporated by the heat of the atmosphere. Unless the bad
drainage is soon rectified, the plants show signs of suffering, and
if they could only speak, we should hear constant wailing from
many badly watered plant-houses in the Kingdom. The lower
leaves being the oldest, soon begin to assume a yellowish tint, and
later on they drop off one by one until the youngest leaves and
buds only are left. These too will soon give up the struggle if
the drainage is not put right.
Watering—The question of drainage is naturally bound up
with that of watering. In the open air, as a rule, plants have to be
satisfied with the moisture obtained from the clouds, and this may
vary according to the district from twenty-five hundred tons to
eighty hundred tons of water per acre in the course of the year, as
stated at p. 31.
With indoor plants, however, the case is different. The rain
cannot fall upon them or upon the soil; moisture must therefore
be supplied in other ways. Water-tanks are usually built in the
glass-houses, and the water is either laid on, or pumped from wells
by windmills, or gas or oil engines. The actual application of water
to the plants is usually by means of water-pots, although hose-
pipes are often used in large commercial establishments, and are
a great saving of time, labour, and money. Watering plants with
the hose has the drawback that individual plants may be over-
looked now and again, or if water-logged are apt to get more than
is good for them.
When water-pots, however, are used, it takes much longer to
get through with the work. The careful gardener looks at every
plant, and his experienced eye will enable him to judge at once
whether water is required or not. If he is not quite sure, he will
either feel the surface soil with his fingers, or ring the pot with
his knuckles. A more or less clear and hollow sound will indicate
a dry soil, while a dull and less audible sound will denote that
the soil is already moist enough for the time being. Generally
speaking, when the soil is inclined to be dry it is given a good
supply of water right up to the rim of the pot, pan, tub, or other
receptacle holding the plant. If the gardener judges the soil to
be wet enough to last until the next time the operation is due,
no water is given to the plant. Picking out the wet and dry
plants in this way necessitates care, attention, and keen observation
14
CULTIVATION UNDER GLASS
on the part of the gardener, and obviously occupies much more
of his time than watering all over the plants with a hose would.
The safe rule to follow when watering is—when dry, give a
plant plenty; when wet enough to last till next time, give
none. By following this rule, the plants will be kept in good
health and a steady rate of growth.
With bulbous and tuberous plants perhaps a little more care
and knowledge of their individual peculiarities are necessary than
with fibrous-rooted ones. Many bulbous and tuberous plants require
a period of rest at some particular period of the year. The
gardener knowing this period, watches its approach and regulates
his supplies of water accordingly. As the plants show signs of
going to rest by the yellowing of the leaves and their gradually
falling away, watering becomes less frequent, and more air and
light are given to the plants to hasten the ripening process.
Again, after the resting period is at an end, and the bulbs or
tubers show signs of new life, the plants will require more and more
_ water until they are in the full vigour of their growth. It is this
continual and gradual change from the active to the dormant state,
and vice versd, that requires to be taken into consideration when
giving water to the plants.
Syringing.—Besides supplying water properly to the roots of
plants it is often necessary to apply it also to the stems and foliage,
more especially perhaps with stove or hothouse plants, and in a
lesser degree to greenhouse plants. It is well known that the drier
the atmosphere the greater the amount of moisture evaporated from
the millions of pores or stomata on the leaves of plants. Conversely,
the more heavy laden the air is with moisture, the slower will be the
evaporation from the leaf surfaces. According, therefore, to the
humidity of the atmosphere surrounding stove and greenhouse
plants will the operation of syringing be regulated. In hot dry
weather it may be necessary to syringe three or four times a day, in
addition to damping down the pathways and stages of the house.
During the winter months, however, and during cold or dull spells
of weather, there will not be the same necessity for so much
syringing. The gardener, therefore, who wishes to grow his plants
well under glass must be a kind of meteorologist or weather-prophet,
and vary his work according to circumstances. What he does one
day, and would be perfectly correct in doing, may be altogether
wrong the next day, simply because the weather conditions were
totally different.
15
THE BULB BOOK
The main object of using the syringe is to counteract the process
of evaporation that is going on unseen to the naked eye from the
leaf stomata. “Unseen” is perhaps scarcely accurate, for it becomes
obvious on a hot day (even when the soil around the root is quite
moist) that unless the syringe is used to moisten the air, the leaves
soon begin to droop. Why is this? Simply because the cells are
being emptied by evaporation of the water that has been supplied
to them by the roots. It may therefore happen, and frequently
does happen, that the leaves of a plant will give off moisture much
more quickly than the roots can absorb it from the soil. In such
cases, therefore, it becomes not only necessary to syringe the foliage
freely, but also to lessen the amount of sunshine by shading the
glass with canvas, or smearing it with whitewash or other mixtures
used for the purpose.
There are now many syringes on the market, but it is advisable
to have those that give a fine mist-like spray, and are provided with
suitable nozzles and bends. The finer the spray, the more perfect
is the wetting of the foliage; and if insecticides or fungicides are
used under other conditions, the more economically and effectively
will they be distributed with a good syringe.
A secondary advantage of syringing plants is that the foliage is
kept clean from dusty or sooty deposits. These if allowed to remain
too long, block up the breathing pores (stomata) to a great extent,
and thus interfere with the absorption of carbonic acid gas from the
atmosphere during the daytime, as well as with the exhalation of
oxygen from the tissues. Dust, dirt, or any other foreign deposit
on the leaves and stems of plants, not only render breathing difficult,
but as the supply of light is also diminished by their presence, the
work of assimilating the food from the air and the soil is greatly
impeded. The result sooner or later is a yellowish, sickly, dirty
appearance of the whole plant.
Sponging.—This operation is often performed on the leaves and
stems of plants grown under glass, when they happen to be badly
affected by insect pests such as scale or mealy bug, or covered with
dirt that cannot be readily removed by syringing. It consists in
washing the leaf surfaces often with clean tepid water, but usually
with a solution of soft soap, quassia chip, or nicotine, or some of the
well-advertised insecticides and fungicides. The leaves are placed
on the outstretched fingers and palm of one hand, and carefully
washed with a sponge saturated in the solution. In this way pests
and dirt are removed, more light and fresh air are given to the
16
LIFTING AND STORING BULBS
tissues, and consequently the whole plant becomes happier and
healthier because cleaner and freed from its natural enemies. As a
rule, there is not much difficulty in removing scaly pests, ete., from
the leaves or stems of plants; but sometimes in very neglected
cases it may be necessary to remove them first of all with a piece of
pointed bamboo stick, afterwards sponging and washing in the
usual way.
LIFTING AND STORING BULBS
Although these points are dealt with in special cases in this work,
it may be as well to touch upon the subject in a general way. Many
if not most bulbous plants are deciduous; that is, the leaves die away
each year, and the bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes, as the case may
be, remain dormant or quiescent for a certain period. Other bulbous
plants, however, present an evergreen appearance—many of the
Crinums and Pancratiums, for example—and are consequently in a
state of growth throughout the year, passing from weak to vigorous
stages according to their nature and the season.
So far as deciduous bulbous plants are concerned, if grown in the
open air, it matters little in many cases whether the bulbs or tubers
are lifted annually, or whether they are left in the ground undis-
turbed for a number of years. Some, such as Daffodils, Crocus,
Snowdrops, Bluebells, Scillas, Chionodoxas, Muscaris, some Liliums
(eg. L. candidum), Fritillarias, to mention only a few, are decidedly
best left in the soil for some years when they are doing well, and if
they have been planted in borders or shrubberies, or in grassland.
In this way they increase and multiply naturally, and give more
gorgeous displays of colour year after year, especially if they have
been fed by placing a layer of some well-decayed manure over them
after the leaves have died down.
Other bulbous plants like Hyacinths, Tulips, Gladiolus, and
Tigridia, and some of the rarer and more tender kinds, are perhaps
best lifted every year after the flowers are past their best. Unless it
is desired to save seeds, this is usually the best time to lift bulbous
plants. The foliage should show signs of yellowing, and this
indicates that the work of assimilating food is nearly at an end for
that particular season. When any of these bulbous plants are grown
in formal beds on the lawn, it is almost essential to get them up and
stored out of the way to make room for other plants to take their
17 B
THE BULB BOOK
place, and to admit of the beds being redug and manured if
necessary.
Having decided to take the bulbs out of the ground the operation
is perhaps best performed with a fork. There would be too much
danger of chopping the bulbs up if a spade were used. The tool
should be driven down straight, so as to get it well below the bulbs,
and the soil should be lifted and turned over or thrown forward very
much in the same way as when digging potatoes. The bulbs should
be picked out by hand into baskets or shallow boxes, in which they
can be afterwards taken away and spread out todry. In this way
the soil can be removed from them easily in due course, and the
process of grading the bulbs into the different sizes can be performed
more readily. Bulbs or tubers lifted in the autumn like Gladiolus,
Montbretias, Tigridias, Watsonias, etce., may be stored in dry soil,
sand, or fibre, and kept in a frost-proof cellar until the spring. The
bulbs of such plants as Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocuses, etc.,
that are taken up in spring or early summer, may be spread out in
layers on shelves made of slating battens, or they may be stored away
in shallow wooden trays that are now so much in use, and are very
convenient for storing large numbers of bulbs into a small space. It
will be necessary to keep bulbs of this character in cool, shady, and
well-ventilated sheds, and it will be better if only one, or at the most
two, layers of bulbs—certainly of the best bulbs—should be placed
on each shelf.
Bulbous or tuberous plants grown in pots may be allowed to
remain in the old soil during the dormant period. The pots, however,
should be placed on their side and stacked away on top of each other
as shown in the diagram. In this way, if placed under
the stage of a greenhouse, the dripping water from the 60000
plants on the shelves will not touch the bulbs and cause pistes
them to rot. When the period of growth arrives, and this is
generally indicated by the new green growth appearing at the
tips of the bulbs, the bulbs may be shaken out of the old soil, and
repotted into a fresh compost according to the instructions given
under each genus.
By treating deciduous bulbous and tuberous plants as described
above, they can be kept for many years in excellent condition,
18
PROPAGATION
PROPAGATION OF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS
PLANTS
Of the many methods of propagation known to gardeners, all
except three — budding, grafting, and layering—are practised in
connection with increasing the stock of bulbous, tuberous, and
rhizomatous plants. Being all herbaceous in character, such methods
as budding, grafting, and layering are not generally applicable, being
reserved for woody plants. Occasionally Dahlias may be grafted on
to the tuberous roots, and the tuberous roots of herbaceous Pzeonies
are often used as stocks on which the fibrous-rooted Tree or Moutan
Ponies are grafted. With these exceptions, however, the great
bulk of bulbous and tuberous plants are increased by other methods.
The principal of these are:—(1) Offsets; (2) Spawn or Cloves; (3)
Scales; (4) Bulbils; (5) Division of the root-stock; (6) Cuttings;
and (7) Seeds. It may be well to say something about each of these
methods of propagation.
OFFSETS.—By far the greater number of plants having true
bulbs and corms, and also most tuberous-rooted plants, are propagated
by means of “offsets,” which are produced in greater or less
numbers from the old stocks. In such genera as Anemone, Aconitum,
Chionodoxa, Colchicum, Crocosma, Doronicum, Fritillaria, Galanthus,
Gladiolus, Hyacinthus, Leucojum, Lilium, Montbretia, Muscari,
Narcissus, Ornithogalum, Oxalis, Scilla, Tritonia, Tulipa, etc., the
parent bulbs or aan produce offsets freely. When it becomes
necessary to increase the stock, the old plants are lifted, usually
in the dormant season, or just before growth recommences, and the
offsets are detached from them. Im all cases the offsets may be
looked upon as vegetative growths or children representative of the
vigour of the parent plant. They arise from the superabundance of
nourishment elaborated from the soil and air by the healthy leaf-
action of their parents. The original bulb, corm, or tuber being
unable by itself to retain all the food sent down by the leaves, is
necessarily compelled to build as it were separate annexes to
. accommodate the surplus material. In this way “ offsets” arise, and
if not interfered with, will in due course carry out the same
principles of growth as their parents. This explains the way in
which a few bulbs, corms, or tubers will in the course of a few years
19
THE BULB BOOK
give rise to a numerous progeny, and occupy far more space in the
garden than was originally allotted them.
As we shall see later on when discussing seeds, the production of
these offsets are of great value to the gardener. Many bulbous and
tuberous plants produce very little or no seed, consequently it would
take many years to raise a large stock of plants of these were it not
that they lent themselves readily to other methods of reproduction.
It may be taken as a general rule that bulbous and tuberous
plants are raised by the readiest means at hand, and this happens in
most cases to be “offsets.” Every offset, large or small, if taken off
at the right time and planted properly, has the makings of a new,
complete, and independent flowering plant in it. As a rule these
offsets are attached close to the parent bulb corm, or tuber; but
occasionally, as in Tulips and in Montbretias, and in some Liliums,
they are produced at the end of a creeping runner-like body, or along
a rhizome. This accounts for what is known as “dropping” in
Tulips, in some cases of which the offsets are several inches lower
down than the parent bulb.
As all offsets are not of equal size and value, they should be graded,
the largest and best being planted in beds by themselves, the medium
and smaller ones (which may take two or three years longer to reach
the flowering stage) being also placed in special beds until they are
large enough to be again transplanted.
SPAWN or CLOVES.—Some plants, such as the Gladiolus, not
only produce a few new corms from the older shrivelled ones, but
also several much smaller bodies around the base. These are
popularly called “spawn,” or individually “cloves” (see Fig. 6),
and are akin vegetatively to the bulbils borne in the axils of the
leaves of some Liliums. These cloves may be stored away till
spring-time in sandy soil, and then sown in special beds of gritty
mould and covered with about 1 inch of soil. At the end of two
or three years they will have attained the size of flowering corms,
and may then be treated like those.
SCALES.—Apart from the offsets of the bulbs of Liliums, many
of the fleshy scale-leaves are broken away or detached in the process
of lifting and replanting; each one of these scales may be utilised to
produce a new bulb. If stuck more or less vertically into rich and
very gritty soil, a little bud is soon produced at the base. In due
course this little bud swells into a little bulb, and at the end of three
or four years it will attain the flowering stage. Very often the
scales are simply covered with an inch or two of sandy soil in a
20
PROPAGATION
special bed, and left to look after themselves until they throw up
flower-stems.
In the case of the florists’ Hyacinth, although these little bulbs
are not produced in the same way as on the Lilium scales, they
can be induced to develop on the base of the old bulb. This is
cut across in several places, and sometimes even the “disc” or
woody base plate is cut out altogether. The old bulbs are then
Fic. 20.—Hyacinth bulb, Fic. 21.—Hyacinth bulb, showing
back view. cuts.
spread out to dry, and by and by small buds or bulblets are
produced on the cut surfaces. When large enough to handle
easily these baby bulbs are detached and
planted an inch or two deep in rich
and very sandy soil. The sketches show
how the bulbs are cut across the base
with a sharp knife, and how the young
bulbs develop in the scars later on. Fig.
20 shows the base of a Hyacinth bulb
before cutting. Fig. 21 shows how the
bulb has four cuts made right across,
making eight slits altogether. The cut
surface soon heals up, and in due course Fic. 22.—Hyacinth bulb, showing
a number of vegetative buds appear in ae
the slits, as shown in Fig. 22. From these buds new Hyacinth
bulbs are eventually produced.
BULBILS.—These are roundish vegetative growths often seen in
the axils of the leaves on the aérial stems of some Liliums and
a few other plants. Why these bulbils should be produced is a
mystery, but it is thought that they appear in cases where the
conditions for reproduction by seeds or other methods are not
favourable. By the end of the growing season these bulbils are
21
THE BULB BOOK
thoroughly ripe, and separate themselves from the parent plant
and are blown about and carried away by the wind until they
settle down in some sheltered crevice—there to grow and bring
forth new plants in due course. In cultivation when it is con-
sidered worth while, any bulbils may be sown in spring as if they
were seeds, covering them with about twice or three times their
own depth of soil, When taken from bulbous plants, they reach
the flowering stage much quicker than seeds, but not nearly so
quickly as offsets.
DIVISION OF THE ROOT-STOCK.—This is a simple and rapid
method of increasing many kinds of tuberous and rhizomatous
plants, as well as many fibrous-rooted herbaceous perennials. Such
plants as Aconite, Peony, Doronicum, Arum Lily, Caladium, and
many others, produce numerous offsets or young growths from
the parent root-stock, and these may be detached just before growth
recommences, or when the plants are lifted or disturbed in autumn
or spring, or other dormant period. Each detached portion
so long as it has at least one bud attached will develop into a
plant by itself in due course, treating it in the same way as
recommended for the parent or established plant. Even with
tufted plants like the Agapanthus, Hemerocallis, Schizostylis and
others, if the main shoots are separated carefully so that each has
a supply of roots, there will be no difficulty in establishing the
separated portions. In the case of the German, Florentine, and
other Irises, and in Solomon’s Seal, the rhizomes may be so hard
and thick that it may be necessary to cut them through with a
strong, sharp knife, although as a rule they are easily enough
broken. In dealing with such plants as Aspidistras, it is better to
sever the rhizomes with a sharp knife, each portion having a bud
’ or two attached. With Lilies of the Valley the rhizomes are easily
separated, but it will be noticed that the thicker and fatter the
buds are the more likelihood there is of having flowering shoots
(see p. 149).
CUTTINGS.—With bulbous plants proper, ze. those belonging
to the Monocotyledonous group, there is no opportunity of raising
them from cuttings, neither can they be budded or grafted, as their
stems possess no cambium layer like the Dicotyledons. Such
tuberous-rooted plants, however, as Dahlia, Begonia, and Gloxinia
are readily raised from cuttings of the young stems, or by means of
the leaves, as described under each of those genera. Indeed, so far
as this volume is concerned, these are about the only plants which
22
PROPAGATION
can be propagated by stem or leaf cuttings, although they may also
be increased by division of the roots, by cutting the tubers into
pieces, or by seeds in the ordinary way.
SEEDS.—Most bulbous, tuberous, and rhizomatous plants may
be raised from seed. There is, however, a wonderful difference in
the length of time between the sowing of the seeds and the
development of flowering plants. Thus, such dicotyledons as
Begonias, Dahlias, Gloxinias, Cyclamen, etc., having tuberous roots
or stems, may be easily brought to the flowering stage in the first
year of their growth from seed. Many other plants in this group
may take a year or two to accomplish their complete cycle of
growth—that is, from the time the seed is sown until the flowers
develop and ripen seed again ; but with true bulbous monocotyledonous
plants it may take from three to seven, eight, or ten years before a
good flowering bulb or corm can be produced. There are a few
exceptions to this rule, notably the Freesias and the Gladioli;
but, generally speaking, it takes several years to raise flowering plants
of such well-known bulbous plants as Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths,
Liliums, etc., from seeds. However, specialists do it, and wonderful
creations have rewarded their skill and patience with such plants
as Daffodils, Narcissi, Gladiolus, Lilium, Freesia, etc.
The difficulty of raising true bulbous plants from seed being
thus so great and occupying so much time and attention, it is
only natural that they should be propagated by the much easier
and more simple method of offsets. When plants are increased
by any other method than seed, there is one consolation, and that
is the fact that any particular species or variety may be kept
perfectly true and pure. When, however, plants are raised from
seeds, and especially when they are readily fertilised by insects,
there is always the chance of variation in colour, habit, and
constitution in the progeny raised from the seeds of such plants.
Cross-fertilisation and Hybridising—This knowledge of course is
of the greatest value to the hybridist. Knowing how easily one
species will cross or breed with another, he selects and controls
the operation in the case of those species or varieties in which
he is particularly interested. In this way by transferring the
pollen from the stamens of a certain variety to the stigma of
another, he effects what is known as crossing or hybridising. When
the same species or variety is fertilised with the pollen from a
similar species or variety, the process is simply known as cross-
fertilisation, and roughly corresponds to the marriage of people
23
~
THE BULB BOOK
of the same race or nationality. When, however, two quite distinct
Species or quite distinct varieties are fertilised with each other’s
pollen (the operation may often be carried out both ways, so that
a “reverse” cross is produced) the plants are said to be hybridised,
and if any progeny result they are said to be “hybrids.” Hybridis-
ing is analogous to marriage between quite distinct races.
FORCING AND RETARDING BULBOUS
PLANTS
For many years gardeners have been well acquainted with the
effects of a high or a low temperature upon plant life, and advantage
has been taken of this knowledge to bring some plants into flower
before their natural period, or to prevent them from flowering until
that period is over. The process by which plants are brought into
early flower is known as “forcing,” while that by which they are kept
in check or suspended animation is known as “retarding.” One pro-
cess is really the antithesis of the other. Thus in the winter months
when it is desired to have Tulips, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Crocuses,
Gladiolus, Liliums, etc., in flower, the plants are placed in a high
temperature and in an atmosphere more or less charged with
moisture. Before this stage is reached, however, the bulbs have
been placed in pots or boxes of soil with the tops just showing in
some cases, or the bulbs are only placed on the soil side by side in
others. Hardy kinds are then stood outside in a sheltered spot and
covered with about 6 inches of soil, ashes, or fibre, and left for a few
or several weeks. This protects them from frost, and root action and
top growth soon become established beneath the surface. This work is
generally done during October and November, so that the bulbs shall
be in different stages of development. When required for forcing
those first placed in pots or boxes are brought into the hothouses
first, as they will be most advanced in growth. For a few days but
very little light is allowed on them, but the temperature may be as
high as 70° to 80° F., and there will be also abundant moisture in the
atmosphere. At the end of a few days the yellowish tint of the
leaves or shoots begins to deepen into green. Then more light may
be given, and the flower-stems having been drawn up by the absence
of light now begin to swell the buds rapidly. In due course (accord-
ing to the kind of plant that is being forced) the flowers begin to
24
FORCING AND RETARDING BULBOUS PLANTS
open, and as soon as they are in fit condition they are either cut and
stood in water to be “ bunched” for market, or taken into the house;
or the entire plant or plants are transferred to cooler quarters
in the conservatory or dwelling-room, or to any place they may be
required.
Once plants have been forced in a high temperature they are
generally regarded as of no further use, and are thrown away.
Certainly they will not be of much value for flowering purposes for
at least two or three seasons. If, however, they are planted out in
some vacant piece of ground and left undisturbed for two or three
seasons, it is astonishing how many bulbs of such plants as Tulips and
Daffodils will recuperate, and reach the flowering stage in that time.
Commercially it would scarcely pay to wait for these old forced bulbs
to flower; and a new stock is purchased each season.
Retarding Bulbous Plants—Many plants are now prevented
from flowering at their natural period simply by placing them in a
refrigerating chamber, in which the temperature is maintained a
degree or two lower than freezing point (32° F.). In this way the
protoplasm in the plant cells is kept in a state of suspended anima-
tion—or almost like hounds held in leash ; they are anxious to start
into growth but cannof do so until the temperature reaches the
normal point. How long it would be possible to keep bulbous or
other plants alive or unimpaired in vitality there are no statistics
available; but it may be stated that many Liliums (chiefly ZL. longt-
florum) are kept for eighteen months and two years in a cold
chamber, and when taken out produce an excellent crop of flowers.
Some large growers have their own retarding or refrigerating plant,
while others prefer to pay a reasonable rent for the cold storage of
their bulbs to some of the refrigerating companies.
Amongst bulbous and tuberous plants that may be readily
“forced” or “retarded” are the following :—
Begonia. Freesia. Ixia. Polianthes tuberosa.
Convallaria. Gladiolus. Leucojum. Polygonatum multi-
Crocus. Gloxinia. Lilium. florum.
Dicentra, Hippeastrum. Montbretia. Richardia.
Eucharis. Hyacinthus. Narcissus. Tulipa.
bo
Or
THE BULB BOOK
BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
FOR CUT FLOWERS
A very large number of bulbous and tuberous plants are cultivated
for their cut flowers alone, and in many cases an enormous business
is done in this way. One need only mention the millions of Daffodil
and Narcissus blossoms that are sent to the markets every spring
from the Scilly Islands, and the various market gardens around London
and in the Provinces, to give an idea of what commerce is done.
Of course almost any flower of a bulbous or tuberous plant may be
used in a cut state, but there are many species the blooms of which
are not adapted for this purpose, or else they are so fleeting in
character that it is hardly worth while severing them from the
plant. In this place we are only considering those kinds that are
specially suitable for decorative purposes in the cut stiles either
privately or commercially.
There is one feature about cutting the flowers of bulbous plants,
and that is, the benefit accruing to the plants themselves from the
operation. If the blossoms are allowed to remain upon the plants
until they wither, and seeds begin to form, a good deal of reserve
material is taken out of the bulbs, tubers, corms, or rhizomes to
enable the plants to ripen their seeds. It is obvious, therefore,
that by cutting off the blooms when fresh, there will be no extra
strain upon the plants. Consequently more reserve material will be
available for the production of fine blooms the following year. It
may therefore be said that cutting off the flowers really strengthens
the plant, and enables it to produce for many years a good supply
of blossom.
When bulbous plants are grown for cut flowers, either in market
gardens or under glass, they are grown in hundreds, and hundreds
of thousands, so that a supply shall be always available during the
season. Sometimes the prices are very low, owing to an enormous
quantity appearing on the market at the same time; but at other
times fairly high prices are realised. Of late years efforts have
been made to avoid gluts by keeping back or retarding the blooms
until they were wanted, because experience shows that a steady
market at a reasonable figure is better than a jumpy market, in which
very high prices rule one day and very low ones the next.
In private gardens, of course, cut flowers are always a feature;
and the gardener who is skilled enough to keep up a good and
“a
BULBOUS PLANTS FOR COLD GREENHOUSES, ETC.
constant supply of blossom for the house, is a man worthy of a
higher wage than is usually considered sufficient.
The following is a list of bulbous, tuberous, or rhizomatous plants
that may be grown largely for the purposes of cut bloom :—
Alstroemeria. Tris, Spanish.
Arum Lily (Richardia). Tris, German.
Amaryllis Belladonna. Tris, Florentine.
Anemone. a.
Brodiza. Lilium.
Brevoortia. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria).
Convallaria majalis (Lily of the | Montbretia.
Valley). Narcissus (Daffodils).
Crinum Moorei. Nerine.
Dahlia. Ornithogalum.
Daffodils (Narcissus). Peeonia.
Doronicum. Polianthes tuberosa.
Eucharis. Polygonatum multiflorum (Solomon’s
Freesia. Seal).
Fritillaria imperialis. Ranunculus.
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop). Richardia zthiopica.
Galtonia candicans. Richardia Elliottiana.
Gladiolus. Snowdrops (Galanthus).
Gypsophila paniculata. Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum).
Hemanthus. Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum).
Hyacinthus. Tritonia.
Hippeastrum. Tulipa.
When cutting the flowers of bulbous or other plants, it is always
well to cut either early in the morning, or late in the afternoon, or
an hour or so before twilight. The cells in the blossoms will then
be fairly well charged with moisture, and this will enable the flowers
to last for a much longer period. If cut in the middle of the day,
flowers do not retain their freshness nearly so long, the cells being
less turgid, and therefore more flaccid, owing to evaporation.
BULBOUS PLANTS FOR COLD GREENHOUSES
AND WINDOW-BOXES
There are now hundreds of greenhouses or glass structures with-
out any heating apparatus, that are left in a cheerless condition
during the winter and early spring months, chiefly through lack of
knowledge as to how they might be utilised. By means of such
hardy bulbous plants as Bulbocodiums, Chionodoxas, Scillas, Spring
Crocuses, Dog’s Tooth Violets a a Dwarf Fritillarias,
2
THE BULB BOOK
Hyacinths, Narcissi, Grape Hyacinths (Muscari), Sternbergias,
Bulbous Irises, Winter Aconites (Zranthis) (all of which the reader
should refer to in the body of the book), it is a comparatively simple
matter to have a good supply of blossom at least early in the year.
To secure this the bulbs of the various genera mentioned should be
placed in pots or shallow pans in the autumn, say during September,
October, and November. The pots or pans should be well drained
and the compost should be of a light, rich, and gritty nature.
Several bulbs according to size may be placed in each receptacle, and
should be just covered with soil. For a month or six weeks, or even
longer, they may be stood outside and covered with about 6 inches of
soil, ashes, or fibre, just as if they were to be forced. When the
roots have been well developed, and top growth is well established,
the plants may be brought into the cold house (after washing and
cleaning the outsides of the pots) and placed upon the stages. Here
they will naturally be exposed to the light, and growth will then be
slower and more sturdy than in the dark. Attention must be given
to watering, but during the cold winter months this will be a small
item. On all fine or genial days, the doors and ventilators of the
greenhouse may be left open, and should only be closed on very cold
or very windy days. Late in the afternoon the doors may be closed,
and not opened again till after breakfast; and the ventilators may
be shut right down on very cold nights, but left slightly open if the
weather is at all favourable. In the event of very severe frosts
setting in, it may be advisable to fill in the spaces on the stages
between the pots with clean moss, dry leaves, or fine wood-wool, to
prevent the frost getting to the roots; and a mat or two should be
placed over the glass at night. Even with what are perfectly hardy
plants when grown in the open air, these little precautions are
necessary when they are grown in pots or pans in the way indicated.
The bulbous plants mentioned may also be utilised for the
decoration of window-boxes during the winter months. They may
be put into small pots and then plunged or buried in fibre or soil
in the boxes, or they may be planted in the soil itself just as they
would be in the open air. And they can be used either by them-
selves, or in mixtures, or in conjunction with such shrubs as
Aucubas, Cupressus, Retinosporas, Golden Privet, Euonymus, ete. ;
or they may be top planted with Polyanthuses, Primroses, Wallflowers,
Double White Arabis, Yellow Alyssum, Violas, or Silenes, etc.—all of
which, if planted in September or October, will come into blossom
the following spring with the bulbous plants.
28
NATURALISING BULBOUS PLANTS
NATURALISING BULBOUS PLANTS IN GRASS-
LAND AND SHRUBBERIES
Perhaps there is no better or more artistic way of improving the
appearance of the landscape, especially during the early months of
the year, than by the judicious planting of certain kinds of bulbs in
the lawn or on grassland generally. Many kinds are admirably
adapted for this purpose, inasmuch as they produce their blossoms
from early January till the end of March, just the season when there
is little growth of the herbage, and when it will not be necessary to
use the lawn-mower. To secure an effect, it is necessary to plant
hundreds and thousands according to the area of the lawn or grass-
land, and in most cases the work of planting should be done in
autumn. By copying natureas closely as possible, far finer and more
picturesque effects will be secured. Anything in the way of planting
in straight lines or rows, or keeping one kind of bulbs away from
another, should be avoided.
Perhaps one of the best methods of securing a natural appear-
ance would be to mix the bulbs that are to be planted and then strew
them over the ground. Some will be naturally closer together than
others, but it is this very irregularity of distance that will produce
the ultimate charm when the bulbs are in blossom. There will be
masses of flowers in certain spots, while here and there between them
will be stray blooms or smaller clusters. The bulbs having been
strewn over the ground in the way indicated, they may be planted in
holes made with a dibber. This will take some little time according
- to the number of bulbs used, but once the work is finished it will not
require doing again perhaps for many a year. The holes made by
the dibber can be filled in by brushing some fine soil over the grassy
surface or by dropping a handful in where necessary.
Where new lawns are being made in the autumn, or when it is
advisable to lift the turf to drain the soil beneath by deep digging or
trenching, advantage may be taken of such operations to spread the
bulbs over the ground before replacing the turf on top of it. In this
way time and labour will be saved, and the soil beneath the turf will
be all the better for the turning over it has received.
When it is intended to plant bulbous plants amongst trees in
shrubberies, it will be well to remember that some trees and shrubs
are evergreen whilst others are deciduous. Amongst such evergreen
plants as Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Ericas, Pernettyas, Cherry
29
THE BULB BOOK
and Portugal Laurels, the bulbous plants most suitable would be
the taller-growing Liliums like Auratum, Candidum, Eacelsum, Par-
dalinum, Giganteum, Hansoni, Humboldti, Monadelphum, Speciosum,
Superbum, etc. together with Fritillaria imperialis, Camassia
esculenta, Galtonia candicans, Solomon’s Seal, ete. In this way the
bulbous plants will find a foil in the evergreen foliage of the shrubs,
and the latter when not in blossom will be made to look more cheer-
ful by the flowers from the bulbs.
The following bulbous and tuberous plants may be regarded as
specially suitable for naturalising in grasslands and shrubberies, those
marked with an asterisk being better in woodlands, shrubberies, and
banks than on the formal lawn :—
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum). Milla.
Bulbocodium. Muscari.
Chionodoxa. *Narcissus.
Colchicum. Puschkinia.
Crocus (Spring and Autumn). Scilla sibirica.
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite). Scilla festalis (Bluebell).
Erythronium (Dog’s Tooth Violet). Snowdrop (Galanthus).
Fritillaria. Sternbergia.
Galanthus (Snowdrop). *Tulipa.
*Leucojum. Winter Aconite (Eranthis).
*Lilium.
With deciduous trees and shrubs, it is generally best to utilise the
dwarf early-flowering kinds of bulbous plants such as Scillas, Chiono-
doxas, Snowdrops, Crocuses, Winter Aconite (Hranthis hyemalis), to
form a carpet of colour beneath them in the spring. They are
particularly effective in beds or shrubberies beneath such trees and
shrubs as Forsythias, Almonds and Peaches, Thorns, Azaleas, Witch
Hazels (Hamamelis), Hazels, Laburnums, Magnolias, Mock Orange
(Philadelphus), Plums, Cherries, Lilacs, Pyrus, Flowering Currant
(Ribes), Spireas, Viburnums, Dogwoods (Cornus), and Weigelas (or
Diervillas). These plants having bare and leafless stems early in
the year do not interfere to any extent with the light that is
necessary for the bulbous plants beneath them; and by the time
many of them are in full leaf and blossom, the bulbous plants will
have gone to rest till the following season. It is thus seen how
easy it is to convert a dreary shrubbery into a place of beauty, with
the aid of bulbous plants that may be in flower almost throughout
the year if a proper selection is made.
30
HARDY AND HALF-HARDY PLANTS
HARDY AND HALF-HARDY BULBOUS AND
TUBEROUS PLANTS
Under this heading may be grouped all those plants having
bulbs, corms, tubers, or rhizomes that may be grown in the open air
in almost any part of the British Islands, that is between the 50th
and 61st northern parallels of latitude, and from the 2nd degree
of longitude east of Greenwich to the 11th west of Greenwich. Even
within this area there will be a good deal of difference in the climate,
due not only as to whether a place is north or south, but also to
altitude and other causes, such as that of the Gulf Stream on the
coast of Ireland and the west of Scotland. The mean annual
temperature of England is 49°-5 F., that of Scotland 47°-5, and of
Ireland 50°-0, so that the Emerald Isle is on the whole warmer and
more equable than either England or Scotland. In Great Britain
there is a difference of fully 6° between Falmouth in Cornwall and
the Shetland Islands—chiefly owing to the difference in latitude.
But in Ireland there is a difference of only 3° between the extreme
north and south.
As to the annual rainfall, there is of course also great variation
in different parts of the Kingdom. Where the country is flattish
and free from hills the average annual rainfall in England is about
25 inches, and in similar parts of Scotland about 28 inches. In
south-western districts, however, as much as 40 inches of rain fall
annually ; and in certain parts like the Western Highlands, the Isle of
Skye, the Lake District, and in Wales, there is a rainfall of 80
-inches and more in the course of the year—each inch of rain
representing rather more than 100 tons of water to the acre.
In Ireland, as in Great Britain, there is also much variation in the
annual rainfall. About one-half of the country—the eastern portion
—has from 30 to 40 inches of rain yearly, the other or western half
having from 40 to 50 inches. Dublin in the east has an average of 28
to 48 inches, while Kylemore in Galway has as much as 89-40
inches.
These geographical and meteorological facts are given, so that the
reader may realise the varying conditions under which plants exist
in the open air. In one part of the Kingdom plants will flourish,
while in other parts the same species will be so tender or half-hardy
that protection may be needed during the winter season. In the
i
THE BULB BOOK
following pages it is stated whether plants are hardy, half-hardy,
tender, or otherwise, so that the cultivator may have something to
guide him in his operations.
The following genera are amongst those containing the most
hardy bulbous and tuberous plants for open-air cultivation. The
genera marked with an asterisk (*) have species with true bulbs or
corms, and are all Monocotyledons.
or rhizomes, and are either Monocotyledons or Diocotyledons :—
Abobra.
*Acis.
Acorus.
Aconitum.
Agapanthus.
* Allium.
Alstroemeria.
*Amaryllis.
Ampelopsis.
Anemone.
*Anomatheca.
Anthericum.
*Antholyza.
Aphyllanthes.
Apios,
Arisarum.
Arum.
Asclepias.
Asphodeline.
Asphodelus.
*Babiana.
Begonia.
*Bessera.
Biarum.
*Bloomeria.
*Bobartia.
Bocconia.
Bongardia.
*Brodiza.
*Bravoa.
*Brevoortia.
Bryonia.
*Bulbine.
*Bulbocodium.
Calla.
*Calochortus.
*Camassia.
Canarina,
Canna.
Caulophyllum.
*Chionodoxa.
Chionographis.
*Chiono-Scilla.
*Chlorogalum.
Codonopsis.
*Colchicum.
Commelina.
Conanthera.
Convallaria.
*Cooperia.
Corydalis.
*Crocosma.
*Crocus.
Cyclamen.
Dahlia.
Dicentra.
*Dierama.
Disporum.
Doronicum.
Dracunculus.
Eranthis.
Eremostachys.
Eremurus.
*Erythronium.
*Kucomis.
*Ferraria.
*Fritillaria.
Funkia.
*Gagea.
*Galanthus.
*Galtonia.
Gentiana.
Geranium.
*Gladiolus.
Glyphosperma.
Gypsophila.
Hablitzia.
Haylockia.
32
The other genera have tubers
Helianthus.
Helonias.
Heloniopsis.
Hemerocallis.
Hesperocallis.
*Hyacinthus.
Inearvillea.
*Tris.
*T xia.
*Txiolirion.
*Lapeyrousia.
Lathyrus.
Leontice.
*Leucojum.
Lewisia.
Liatris.
Libertia.
*Lilium.
*Lycoris.
Lysichitum.
Maianthemum.
Medeola.
Megarhiza.
Melanthium.
*Merendera,
*Milla.
Mirabilis.
*Montbretia.
*Morwa.
*Muscari.
*Narcissus.
*Nemastylis.
Nothoscordum.
Nuphar.
Nympheea.
*Ornithogalum.
Ostrowskia.
Othonna.
Oxalis.
TENDER BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
Pachyrhizus. Sanguinaria, Tricyrtis.
Peeonia. Saxifraga, Trillium.
Phlomis. Schizostylis. *Tritonia.
Phytolacca. *Scilla. Tropzolum.
Podophyllum. Sisyrinchium. *Tulbaghia.
Polygonatum. *Sparaxis. *Tulipa.
Polygonum. *Sprekelia. *Urginea.
Polymnia. *Sternbergia. Uvularia.
*Puschkinia. Symphytum. *Veltheimia.
Ranunculus. Tamus. Veratrum.
Reineckia. *Tecophilea. Wachendorfia.
*Rigidella. Thalictrum. *Watsonia.
Roscoéa. Thladiantha. *Zephyranthes.
Sagittaria. *Tigridia. Zygadenus.
Salvia.
TENDER BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
The plants in this group are such that they cannot be grown in
the open air, even during the summer months, with any degree of
success. They are natives of the tropical and subtropical parts of
the globe, and are mostly found at low elevations where the heat
and moisture are often great. It must be borne in mind that plants
from the same geographical region may be quite different in their
natures, and would consequently require different cultural treatment.
Thus, a species from the high mountain tops at altitudes of 10,000
or 12,000 feet, would be quite hardy in our climate, in comparison
with other species from the same latitude, but found at the base of
the mountains or on the plains. This accounts for many plants from
the mountain ranges of Central America being hardy or almost
hardy in the British Isles, while others at a lower elevation require
to be grown in a stove or greenhouse.
As the terms “stove” and “greenhouse” are frequently used in
this work, it may be as well to explain to the amateur what is meant
by them. A “stove” house is a very warm greenhouse—one with
a good supply of hot-water pipes, so that even in severe winters it may
be possible to maintain a night or minimum temperature of at least
- 60°-65° F. This can only be done by proper attention to stoking
the furnaces. Asa rule a “stove” house is also a moist one, that is,
the atmosphere is constantly kept in a state of humidity either by
throwing water on the floors (“damping down” as gardeners call it)
or by the frequent use of the syringe or hose-pipe. Water-tanks
are built in the houses, so that a liberal supply of water is always
33 c
THE BULB BOOK
available. Of course, the amount of moisture in the atmosphere will
be regulated largely according to the season, and the plants that are
grown. During the spring and summer months, for example, the
thermometer will often register over 90° and 100° F. in a stove
during the daytime, and the humidity of the atmosphere will be
palpable to anyone entering, especially when spectacles are worn, as
the vapour immediately condenses on the cooler glasses.
Notwithstanding the heat and moisture, it is essential to have
such hothouses properly ventilated, otherwise the air would become
so foul and stagnant that neither plants nor gardeners would be able
to live init. The modern horticultural builder, in conjunction with
the gardener, knows exactly how to arrange the boilers, pipes, and
ventilators, so that a maximum amount of heat may be secured at
the least cost. At the same time, by proper ventilation, the air will
be purified, and but little heat will be allowed to escape.
The “greenhouse” is a glass-house also supplied with hot-water
pipes and boilers; but as plants requiring less heat and moisture are
grown in it, there is no necessity to maintain such high temperatures.
During the summer months, say from April till October, no fire-heat
whatever need be used, as the glass will retain during the night-time
much of the heat acquired during the day. During the winter months,
from October till the end of March, a certain amount of artificial heat
must be infused so as to maintain a night temperature of 45°-55° F.
When some plants that are on the border line between hardy and half-
hardy, or somewhat tender, are grown, very little artificial heat is
required during the winter season, just sufficient to keep the frost out.
Plants of this character are often wintered in cold frames and given
plenty of air and light onall favourable occasions, the only protection
they require being a mat or two thrown over the glass at night when
the frost is likely to be severe.
The following genera embrace bulbous, tuberous, or rhizomatous
plants that are usually grown under glass either in a “stove” or
“greenhouse.” The genera marked with an asterisk (*) are all
monocotyledons, and have true bulbs or corms. The cultural details
are given under each genus in the body of the work :—
Achimenes. Androcymbium. *Blandfordia.
*Albuca. Anigozanthos. Boussingaultia.
Alocasia. *Anoiganthus. *Bowiea.
Alpinia. Ariszema. *Brunsvigia.
*Ammocharis, Aspidistra, *Buphane.
Amomum. Begonia. Burbidgea.
Amorphophallus. Beschorneria. Caladium,
FREAKS OF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
*Calliphruria. *Eurycles. *Melaspherula.
*Callipsyche. Eustephia. Monochilus.
*Calostemma. *Freesia. Nelumbium.
Canna. *Geissorhiza. *Nerine.
*Chlidanthus. Gesnera. Niphea.
Clivia. *Gethyllis. Nymphea.
Colocasia. | Globba. Oxalis.
*Cooperia. Gloriosa, *Pancratium.
*Crinum. Gloxinera. *Pheedranassa.
Curculigo. Gloxinia. *Placea,
Curcuma. Gonioscy pha. *Plagiolirion.
*Cyanella. *Griffinia. * Polianthes.
Cyclamen. *Heemanthus. Richardia,
Cypella. Hezemodorum. *Rigidella.
Cyphia. Hedychium Sagittaria,
*Cyrtanthus. *Herbertia. Sandersonia.
Datura. *Herreria. Sauromatum.
Daubenya. Hesperantha. Sinningia.
Dichopogon. *Hessea. *Sprekelia.
Dioscorea. *Hippeastrum. *Stenomesson.
* Dipeadi. *Homeria. *Strumaria.
Dipladenia. *Hymenocallis, *Syringodea.
Dracontium. *Hypoxis. Testudinaria.
*Drimia. Tcacina. *Tulbaghia.
*Drimiopsis. Tpomeea. *Urceocharis.
Eichhornia. *Txiolirion. *Urceolina.
*Klisena. *Lachenalia. *Urginea.
Eranthemum. *Littonia. *Vallota.
Eriospermum. Maranta. Wurmbea.
*Eucharis. *Marica. Xanthosoma.
* Kucrosia. *Massonia. Zingiber.
FREAKS OF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS
PLANTS
From time to time growers of bulbous and tuberous plants meet
with specimens in their collections that exhibit some abnormal
feature. The science of these departures from the normal has been
called “teratology,” and scientific men have been frequently puzzled
as to the causes that give rise to these peculiarities or monstrosities.
They are much more frequent probably than botanists are aware,
and there is scarcely a season passes that one may not see some
unusual development in nurseries and large establishments where
hundreds and thousands of a particular kind of plant are grown.
Of course, bulbous and tuberous plants are not the only ones that
3D
THE BULB BOOK
produce freaks. All classes of plants vary in the same way at some
time or another, and are regarded as commonplace, though curious,
by those who grow them. Many instances of roots, stems, leaves,
sepals, petals, stamens, pistils, and ovaries having been distorted in
some way have been recorded, not only in the late Dr Masters’ work
on Vegetable Teratology, but also in the pages of the horticultural and
botanical press and journals. As might be expected, the flowers,
being usually the most conspicuous and ornamental parts of a plant,
have been noticed most frequently, but other parts, especially the
flower-stems, have also been noted from time to time. To give a
few instances :-—
Flower-Stems.—In some instances, notably in Liliums especially
L. auratum), the ordinary roundish stem is frequently broadened out
into a thin, flattish body, an examination of which shows at once that
several stems have fused or united together, and as each one produces
its own blossoms, the result is
an enormous mass of bloom.
This fusion or union of several
stems into one is called fasci-
ation, and is quite a common
feature in the ordinary garden
Asparagus.
Instances of fasciation have
also been noted in the flower-
stems of Agapanthus wmbel-
latus,Oxalis crenata,and several
florists’ Tulips. In the case of
the Tulip, there is usually only
one flower on one stalk, but by
fusion or fasciation, examples
bearing as many as seven
flowers have been met with—
the stems being united part of
the way, and then branching
towards the top. Fig. 23
shows a Tulip having three
flower - stems, more or less
fused together.
In some Liliaceous and Iridaceous plants bulbils (see p. 21)
form naturally in the axils of the stem leaves. In many, however,
this character is undeveloped, ee probably only dormant, owing
3
Fic. 28.—Tulip with three flowers on one stem.
FREAKS OF BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS PLANTS
to the necessary conditions or surroundings being absent. Occasion-
ally, however, we get underground growths like corms being
reproduced on the aérial stems. Examples of this have been met
with in some Watsonias, where it has been reported that “corms”
have been borne in the axils of the leaves.
In some orchids (e.g. Phalenopsis Schilleriana and others), young
plants develop for some reason on the flower-stems after the blooms
have withered. Something similar has been recorded in the case of
the genus Marica, in which numerous small plants had developed on
the scapes. These plants when detached grew freely, but did not
come into blossom so quickly as those raised in the ordinary way.
It has been recorded by Mr. W. Hales, of Chelsea Physic Garden,
that in the case of Achimenes grandiflora numbers of greenish catkin-
like tubers were produced in the axils of the leaves. This case is
probably on all fours with what happens when these plants are
raised from leaf-cuttings. A reference to the drawing at p. 56 will
show that these catkin-like tubers develop as a matter of course
from the base of the leaves of Achimenes, when they are inserted as
cuttings in a suitable compost and temperature.
The “doubling” of flowers, it is now well known, is due to the
suppression or rather modification of the stamens and pistils. These
are morphologically only modified leaves, and it is therefore not
unnatural that under certain conditions, chiefly when there is no
great necessity to develop ripened seeds, some bulbous plants have
these organs broadened out into coloured petals. The double
Daffodils and Narcissi, double Tulips, double Liliums, double Snow-
drops, etc., are well-known examples. Fig. 24 shows a curious
development in the flower of Narcissus bicolor Horsfieldi, which
~ appeared a year or two ago in a market nursery at Isleworth. Not
only are the usual six segments of the perianth multiplied into
several narrow segments, but the number of stamens was also
increased. Another plant of N. Horsfieldi bore two almost perfect
flowers on one scape, as shown in Fig. 25.
In the case of the White Arum Lily (Richardia ethiopica) the
spathes or floral envelopes, which are usually single, become double,
as shown in the accompanying sketch (Fig. 26). The spathe is only a
leaf modified for the purpose of protecting the columnar spathe on
which the true flowers are seated; and the gradual change from
green to white, or yellow, or other colour is easily seen during the
period of growth. Fig. 27 shows how even a green leaf is sometimes
modified into a pure white spathe.
3
‘THE BULB BOOK
oy
Fia. 24.—Narcissus Horsfieldt, with numerous Fic, 25.— Narcissus Horsfieldi, twin-flowered.
perianth segments.
Fie, 26.—Arum Lily (Jtichardiu), with
double spathe. (4.) Fie. 27.—Arum Lily, with leaf-like spathe.
38
FREAKS OF BULBOUS AND 'TUBEROUS PLANTS
Analogous to this case of the Arum Lily is that of a Tulip, shown
on Fig. 28, in which the leaf, instead of being a flat expansion
remained tubular, and formed a kind of extinguisher over the flower.
This case rather looks as if the flower was intended to be self-
fertilised by being imprisoned in the tubular leaf.
5 NAVAL ET
oy iy
€ mae a
wt: f
Fic. 213.—Iris Tauri. (%.)
shaped leaves, and clusters of fragrant
flowers in May and June on stems
1 to 14 ft. high. Colour pure white
slightly veined with lilac, and edged
with purple, the obovate cuneate
falls being decorated with a yellow
beard, while the much-crisped pure
white standards are keeled and edged
with purple. (Red. Lil. t. 306.)
I. Tauri.—A bulbous species, native
ol4
IRIS
of Asia Minor, having bright green
leaves, and dark violet long-tubed
flowers streaked with white, and
having orange-yellow crests edged
with white (Bot. Mag. t. 7793).
I. tectorum (/. tomiolopha)—A
beautiful beardless Iris about 1 ft.
Fic. 214.—Iris tectorwm. (%.)
high, native of Japan, with thin pale
green sword-like leaves about 1 ft.
long. Flowers in May and June, 1$
to 2 ins. deep, usually bright lilac ;
the blunt crisped falls are veined
with dark lilac, the claw having a
deeply laciniated white and lilac crest.
(Bot. Mag. t. 6118.) There is a white-
flowered variety, candida, and a dark
blue one, atroceerulea,
I. tenax.—A handsome Californian
species 6 to 12 ins, high, with two
linear leaves and bright lilac-purple
flowers 2 to 3 ins. deep, borne on
slender stems in May and June (Bot.
Mag. t. 3343 ; Bot. Reg. t. 1218).
I. tenuis.—A beardless Iris, native
of Oregon, with tufts of thin and
THE BULB BOOK
IRIS
narrow green leaves 12 to 15 ins.
long, and white flowers faintly veined
with yellow and. lilac (Gard. 1888,
t. 1).
Fic. 215.—Iris tenaz. (4.)
I, tingitana.—A beautiful bulbous
Tris, native of Tangiers, with large
ovoid pointed bulbs and deeply
channelled leaves, which are broad
like those of J. xiphioides, but very
glaucous and _ striated outside.
Flowers in March and April, 5 to 6
ins. across, on stems about 2 ft. high.
Falls light or deep blue, or bluish-
purple, with deeper veins, and a
yellow keel spreading into a broad
patch behind. (Lot. Wag. t. 6775.)
The most suitable place for J,
tingitana is at the base of a south
wall, Fig. 216.
I. trojana,—A native of Troy, about
3 ft. high, with glaucous green
sword-shaped leaves and _ sweet-
scented flowers of a bright purplish-
violet, the base being white with
315
IRIS
yellow margins veined with coppery
purple. The broadly elliptic stand-
ards are violet, and the styles are
bluish-violet with broad-toothed
crests.
Fic. 216.—Iris tingitana. (4.)
I. Tubergeniana.—This is related
to I. orchioides and I. cawcasica. The
falls are bright yellow while the
standards are minute and _ three-
toothed. (Gard. Chron. 1899, xxv.
225.)
I, tuberosa (/Hermodactylus tuber-
osus), Snake’s Head Iris—A. distinct
and interesting species, native of the
Mediterranean shores, It has a
tuberous branched root-stock like a
small hard, deformed Potato. The
leaves are often very long, four-sided,
with a horny point. The flowers,
about 2 ins. across, appear in March
and April on slender hollow stems
about 1 ft. long, and are of a peculiar
olive-green colour, with dark almost
black velvety purple falls, occasionally
THE BULB BOOK
IRIS
streaked with yellow or bright green.
(Bot. Mag. t. 531.)
Fic. 217.—Iris tuberosa, (4-)
I. unguicularis (/. stylosa)—A
lovely beardless Algerian Iris with
a rhizome as thick as a man’s finger
and tufts of distichous linear bright
green leaves equalling or overtopping
the large fragrant bright lilac or sky-
blue flowers, which are produced from
October to April (Bot. Mag. t. 5773).
There are several forms of this
species, including alba, with large
white flowers, and speciosa, with deep
rich blue flowers veined with white.
There are also forms known as
angustifolia, Elisabethe, grandiflora,
lilacina, marginata, pavonia, and
purpurea,
They are all best grown in spots
sheltered from rain and wind.
I, urmiensis.—A Cushion Iris from
Persia, about 7 ins. high, and having
yellow flowers (Gard. Chron. 1900,
XXxvili. 373, f. 116).
316
IRIS
I. vaga.—A Regelia Iris, native of
Turkestan, with stolon-bearing root-
stocks, erect curving leaves, and
yellowish, purple, and brown - red
flowers (Gartenji. 1244, f. 7).
Fic. 218.—Iris unguicularis. (3.)
I. variegata.—A very handsome
Austrian Iris of the germanica group,
with tufts of sword-like leaves 12 to
18 ins. long, purple at the base.
Flowers in May and June; falls ob-
long, narrowed at the base, deep
claret-brown, with a bright yellow
beard and brown veins on a yellow
ground; standards erect, oblong,
bright lemon-yellow. (Bot. Mag. t.
16; Red. Lil. t. 292.)
There are many beautiful forms
having various shades of yellow,
bronze, and purple predominating ;
although alba, with white flowers, is
an exception.
I, Vartani—aA curious little bulb-
ous Iris from the neighbourhood of
Nazareth, with ovoid netted bulbs,
3l
THE BULB BOOK
TRIS
and four-sided horny-tipped leaves
4 to 6 ins. long at the time of fiower-
ing. Flowers 3 to 4 ims. across,
appearing about October. The pre-
dominating colour is slaty blue or
dull lavender; the falls having a
yellow or white blade with black dots
on the claw. (Bot. Vag. t. 6942.)
I. verna.—A_ beardless Iris from
the S. United States, about 13 ft.
high, with narrow finely-veined
leaves and deep violet flowers, having
an orange keel to the falls. The
leaves persist during the winter.
I. versicolor.—A beautiful beard-
less Iris from N. America, with
rather glaucous sword-shaped leaves
and clusters of large claret-purple
flowers, borne in May and June, on
stems 1 to 2 ft. high. The standards
are paler in colour than the much
larger falls, which are beautifully
veined with deep purple. (Bot.
Mag.*t. 21.) There is a good deal
of variation in the colour, and several
forms exist, that known as kermesina
having lilac standards and reddish-
lilac falls net-veined with white.
Iris virginica is considered to be
a form of this, having bright lilac
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 703).
I, Warleyensis.—A native of E.
Bokhara, related to J. orchioides
cerulea, from which it differs chiefly
in the colour of the flowers, in which
shades of violet predominate. The
falls are deep violet with a bright
orange crest. (Gard. Chron. 1902,
xxxi. 386, f. 134; Flora and Sylva,
December 1905.)
I. Willmottiana.—A native of E.
Turkestan closely related to J.
caucasica, but with lavender (not
yellow) or pale purple flowers blotched
with white (Gard. Chron. 1901, xxix.
261, f. 100).
I. xiphioides (J. anglica ; I. pyren-
aica; Xiphion latifolium), English
Jris—A beautiful Pyrenean Iris hav-
=
i
TRIS
ing bulbs with brown more or less
shaggy coats. The leaves are stouter
and broader than those of the Spanish
Iris. Flowers in July, of a rich deep
blue in the wild type, with a con-
spicuous golden keel on the rounded
fiddle-shaped fall. (Lot. Mag. t. 687 ;
Red. In. t. 212.)
There are now a large number of
cultivated forms of the English Iris,
varying in colour from blue and
through various hues of purple to red
and pure white. In catalogues many
distinctive names will be found, some
of the best forms being Blanche
Fleur, La Sincérité, Oriental, and
Mont Blanc, among the whites, the
latter being a particularly fine form ;
Anna Maria, Bleu Mourant, Clio,
Conquerant, Charles Dickens, Ceres,
UObscurité and Nimrod, among the
lilac, blue, and purple and violet
shades; Masterpiece and Nimrod,
blackish-purple ; Duke of Portland,
La Triomphante, and Penelope,
among the white and _ rose, or
purple-spotted and striped shades.
There are many other names, all
differing according to the particular
catalogue.
I. Xiphium (J, hispanica ; Xiphion
vulgare), Spanish Iris—A charm-
ing bulbous Iris, native of 8. Europe,
with smooth, brownish, ovoid bulbs,
and linear, glaucous, awl-shaped
* leaves 12 to 18 ins. long. Flowers in
May and June, 3 to 4 ins. across,
variously coloured with shades of
purple, bronze, and yellow, and having
a large number of garden varieties,
including white ones. (Sot. Mag.
t. 686.)
A distinct natural form from
Portugal, known as /usitanica, has
pure yellow flowers with an orange
blotch on the fall, and is doubtless
the progenitor of the various yellow
garden varieties (Lot. May. t. 679).
The form known as “Thunderbolt”
THE BULB BOOK
IRIS
is a strong free-growing plant 2 ft. or
more high, having large flowers of a
peculiar bronzy or smoky hue, pro-
duced by the fusion of purple and
yellow with brown. The variety
Battandierz, from Algiers, is like the
type, but has very glaucous foliage
and dead white flowers with an
orange ridge on the fall.
As a cut flower the Spanish Iris is
excellent.
Long before the flowers
Fic, 219.—Iris xiphiwm. (4.)
in the British Islands open out of
doors, tons of “spears,” or unopened
blossoms, are sent to the London
markets from the south of France,
the Riviera, and the Channel Islands.
These are placed in water and stood
in the genial temperature of a hot-
house, where they open beautifully
bright and clear in a few days, and
are then fit for sale.
The following are a few of the
318
ISOLOMA
finest garden forms of the Spanish
Tris, and all are worth growing :—
Adelina Patti, deep bronze ;
Sappho, splendid bronze; Agnes,
blue, very fine ; Alexander V. Hum-
boldt, deep blue; Formosa, dark
blue; Leonidas, dark violet-blue ;
Louise, lilac-blue, very large, extra
fine; Athalia, pure white; Llanche
Superbe, pure white, dwarf; British
Queen, pure white ; La Dame Llanche,
pure white, dwarf; La Neige, pure
white, large; Mont Blanc, pure
white, dwarf; Belle Chinoise, very
fine yellow; Chrysolora, very fine
bright yellow ; Leander, deep yellow,
very large, scented; Ovidius, clear
pale yellow; Princess May, yellow
with bluish centre; Welliam the
first, golden-yellow.
ISOLOMA (sos, equal; Joma, a
border ; the corolla lobes being equal).
Nat. Ord. Gesneraceze.—This genus
contains about sixty species of warm-
house herbaceous plants closely related
to the Achimenes and Gesnera, and
resembling the first-named in having
scaly or catkin-like rhizomes. The
leaves are opposite, and usually
densely clothed with soft velvety
hairs. The flowers are tubular,
resembling the Achimenes in form
and size. The plants formerly known
under the name of Typ a now belong
to this genus. For cultural details
see ACHIMENES and GESNERA.
The following species may be noted.
They are all natives of Tropical
America, ranging from Bolivia and
Peru to Mexico :—
I, amabile.—This grows about 1 ft.
high, has greenish-purple stems, and
large deep rose flowers (Lot. Mag. t.
4999),
I. bogotense (Achimenes picta).—
This grows 1 to 2 ft. high, and has
drooping yellow flowers, red above
THE BULB BOOK
IXIA
and striped and dotted with red
inside (Bot. Mag. t. 4126).
I. Deppeanum ((esnera elongata).—
Height 2 to 3 ft., with orange-red
flowers in velvety umbels (Dot. Mag.
t. 3725).
I. erianthum.—A_ handsome erect
plant from Colombia, 2 to 4 ft. high,
with underground scaly rhizomes, and
thick stems and leaves covered with
soft brownish hairs. Leaves ovate
lance-shaped, with stalks 4 to 6 ins.
long. Flowers orange-red or cinnabar,
velvety, drooping, borne in clusters
in the axils of the upper leaves.
(Bot. Mag. t. 7907.)
I, hondense, — A free - flowering
species about 1 ft. high, with yellow
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 4217).
Other species equally beautiful and
interesting, and mostly having red or
yellow flowers, are—I. longifolium,
orange-red ; I, molle, red (Lot. Mag.
t. 3815); I. ocellatum, bright red
(Bot. Mag. t. 4359) ; I. pictum, scarlet
(Lot. Mag. tt. 4126, 4431); I. Schie-
deanum, scarlet (Bot. Mag. t. 4152) ; 1.
Seemanni, bright brick-red (Bot. Mag.
t. 4504); I. triflorum, yellow (Sot.
Mag. t. 4342); and I. tubiflora,
yellow, tinted with red.
I. hypocyrtiflorum, formerly known
as Gloxinia. This species has orange-
red almost globular flowers. (Lot.
Mag. t. 5655.)
IXIA (ixia, bird-lime ; in reference
to the sticky juice). Nat. Ord. Iridee.
—A genus of South African herbs
with smooth or fibrous-coated bulbs
or corms, and erect, strongly-veined,
sword-shaped leaves. Flowers with
a funnel-shaped or salver-shaped
perianth, borne on slender spikes.
Ixias are closely related to Spar-
axis, Babiana, and Tritonia, but differ
structurally in details. They are
elegant plants of fairly easy growth,
but unfortunately are not hardy
319
IXIA
except in the very mildest parts of
the British Islands. If given protec-
tion, however, in severe winters with
a little straw, bracken, or litter, the
bulbs may be planted on warm,
sunny, and sheltered borders in many
parts, any time between October or
November and January, the bulbs
being buried about 3 ins. below the
surface of the soil. This should con-
sist of loam, peat or leaf-soil, and
coarse sand in about equal propor-
tions, and the drainage should be
perfect, as anything like wet heavy
soil is almost sure to be fatal to the
plants. During growth in spring, the
soil may be freshened up with a
hand-fork, to prevent it getting caked,
and also cause the moisture to rise to
the roots. After the flowers are over,
and the leaves have withered, the
bulbs should be kept dry and in a
resting condition until growth starts
again. In bleak localities it will be
found safer to grow the bulbs in pots
or pans, protecting them in a cold
frame, and when root action and
growth are established, the plants
may be gently forced into blossom in
a greenhouse, early in the year. Ina
cut state with long stenis, there are
few spring flowers to rival the peculiar
charm and elegance of the Ixias, of
which there are now many garden
varieties.
Ixias are best increased by offsets,
which are detached at the time of re-
planting, and these will flower the
second year; or by seeds sown in
sandy soil in spring in a warm green-
house. The seedlings should be
grown on for a year or two before
planting out, or distributing too much.
There are about two dozen species
known, but the following is a good
selection. They grow 12 to 18 ins.
high :—
I. aristata.— Whitish, pink (Sot.
Mag. t. 589).
THE BULB BOOK
IXIA
I, capillaris.—Fleshy or lilac (Bot.
Mag. tt. 570, 617, 1013).
I, flexuosa.—Pink or lilac (Bot.
Mag. t. 624).
I. hybrida.—White, tinted pink
(Bot. Mag. t. 128).
I. linearis.—Lilac (ot. Mag. t.
570).
I. lutea.—Bright yellow (Bot. Mag.
t. 646).
I. maculata. — Orange - yellow,
blotched in the throat (Bot. Mag. t.
539; Red. Inl. t. 188). The variety
ochroleuca has creamy-yellow flowers
with a broad brown band in the
centre (Bot. Mag. t. 1285) ; and nigro-
albida has pure white flowers with a
blackish centre.
Fic. 220.—Ixta viridiflora. (%.)
I. monadelpha.—A variable species,
having lilac flowers with a blue or
greenish centre, and having the fila-
ments of the stamens united into a
tube (Bot. Mag. t. 607).
I. odorata.—Yellow, sweet-scented
(Bot. Mag. t. 1173).
320
IXIOLIRION
I. paniculata (J. longiflora; Tri-
tonia longiflora). — Creamy - white,
often tinted with pink and with a
blackish centre (Bot. Mag. tt. 256,
1502 ; Red. Lil. t. 34).
I. patens (J, filiformis).—Pale pink,
bell-shaped (Bot. Mag. t. 522; Red.
Lil. tt. 30, 140).
I. polystachya (J. erecta),—White
(Lot. Mag. t. 623).
I. speciosa (/. crateroides).—Deep
red or crimson ; one of the best (Bot.
Mag. t. 594).
I. viridiflora.—Soft sea-green, with
a blackish shining blotch in the
centre; very attractive and curious
(Bot. Mag. tt. 549, 579; Red. Ll. t.
476).
IXIOLIRION (from zxia, and leirion,
a lily ; ze, an Ixia-like Lily). Nat.
Ord. Amaryllideze.—A small genus of
bulbous plants with linear leaves and
umbels of funnel-shaped flowers on
top of a slender erect stem. Peri-
anth segments six, more or less erect,
oblanceolate, acute.
The two species here mentioned
are the only ones in the genus. They
should be grown in warm, sunny, and
sheltered positions in the open air in
rich and well-drained sandy soil.
When the bulbs are dormant from
autumn onwards, they should be kept
dry, and if left in the open border,
the winter rains should be warded off
with a sloping covering of straw or
litter, or with an old light. Propaga-
tion is effected by offsets in spring ;
and also by sowing any ripened seeds
in gentle warmth at the same period.
I, Kolpakowskianum.—This grows
wild in Turkestan, at an elevation of
3000 to 6000 ft. It has tufts of grass-
like leaves, and produces its whitish
or bluish flowers about April and
May (Gartenfl. t. 953).
I, montanum.—A beautiful species
from W. Asia, having long-necked
35
THE BULB BOOK
a
KAMPFERIA
ovoid bulbs about 1 in. through, and
grassy leaves. The bright lilac
flowers in graceful umbels appear in
early summer (June), and have the
segments distinctly three to five
(Bot. Reg. 1844, t. 66.)
ribbed.
a
i
Fic. 221.—Ixiolirion tataricwm. (4.)
The variety tataricum or Lede-
bourt has narrower leaves and smaller
flowers; macranthum has much
larger flowers than the type, deep
blue shaded with purple ; and brachy-
antherum (or Pallasi) has beautiful
violet-blue fiowers tinged with rose,
and with a darker coloured band down
the centre of each segment.
KA=MPFERIA (after Kempfer, a
German naturalist). Nat. Ord. Scita-
minee.—A genus containing about
twenty species of hothouse plants
closely related to Roscoéa, Hedy-
chium, and Curcuma. They have
thickened, tuberous-like root-stocks,
and leafy spikes of flowers. The
1 x
K AMPFERIA
corolla has an elongated tube and
spreading or reflexed lobes, the lip
being bilobed. The side staminodes
are broad and petal-like.
These plants flourish in sandy peat
and loam and leaf-mould, and require
a temperature of 65° to 75° F. when
in full growth, but 15° or 20° less
when dormant. They are best pro-
pagated by dividing the roots as
growth is commencing, and are,
perhaps, more valuable for the decora-
tive character of their leaves than
anything else. The best-known kinds
are :—
K. angustifolia. — From Bengal.
About 1 ft. high, with lance-shaped
wavy leaves, and pure white and
purple flowers. (ed. Lil, t. 389.)
K, atrovirens.—A Bornean species
about 9 ins. high, with sharp-pointed,
elliptic, oblong leaves, deep-green
above, purplish beneath, and violet-
purple flowers (///. Hort. 1886, 610).
K, Ethele.—A native of Natal,
about 1 to 2 ft. high, having oblong
lance-shaped leaves a foot long, and
solitary rose-purple flowers with a
yellow blotch on the lower lip-like
segments (Gard. Chron. 1898, xxiii.
94, f. 34).
K. Galanga,—This is a well-known
economic plant in the East Indies,
being cultivated for its clusters of
ovoid tubercules, which are employed
medicinally and fer perfumes. It
grows about a foot high, and has oval
roundish leaves, green and smooth
above, grey-green and downy beneath.
The flowers are pure white and
appear in summer. (Bot. Mag. t.
850.)
K, Gilberti —One of the most orna-
mental species from Moulmein. It
has tufts of recurving oblong, lance-
shaped, wavy, deep green leaves con-
spicuously but irregularly bordered
with white. The flowers are white
and purple.
THE BULB BOOK
KAMPFERIA
K,. Kirki.—A beautiful stove her-
baceous plant, having green plantain-
like leaves, and stout erect flower-
stalks 1 ft. or more high, bearing
numerous large flowers which expand
in pairs from the bottom upwards,
lasting for several weeks. Each
flower is about 3 ins. across, flattish,
and of a soft rosy-mauve with a
yellow blotch in the centre, having
radiating lines of white. (Gard.
November 1881, 504.)
The variety e/atior differs from the
type in being taller, and the large
rose-coloured flowers having a golden-
yellow blotch at the base of the lip,
the sides being marked with purple
(Bot. Mag. t. 8188).
K. lutea.—A stemless plant, native
of Penang, having leaves about 9 ins,
long, 4 ins. broad, smooth above,
hairy beneath. The yellow flowers
with orange lip are borne on scapes
3 to 4 ins. high. (Kew Bull. 1907,
60.)
K. macrosiphon.— A native of
German FE, Africa, with tufts of green
lance-shaped leaves a foot long, and
numerous blue flowers (Gard. Chron.
1898, xxiv. 195).
K. ornata,—A fine foliage plant
from Borneo, having long-stalked,
sharply-pointed, lance-shaped leaves,
glossy green above with a_ broad
white central band, and _ purple
beneath. The yellow flowers with an
orange lip appear in summer, (J//,
Hort. 1884, 159.)
K, pandurata,— A Sumatran species
with spindle-shaped root-stocks, short
reddish stems, smooth, oval lance-
shaped leaves, and red and purple
flowers (Lodd. Dot. Cat. t. 587; Bot.
teg. t.. 178).
K, Parishi,—An ornamental species
from Moulmein, It grows about 1 ft.
high, and has pale green, erect, lance-
shaped leaves, and white and bright
violet flowers. (ot, Mag. t. 5763.)
322
LACHENALIA
K. Roscoeana.—A Burmese stem-
less species about 6 ins, high, with
roundish pointed leaves variegated on
the upper surface. The white flowers
appear about October. (Sot. Mag.
t. 5600.)
K. rosea.—A native of British
Central Africa, having a short fleshy
root-stock and thickish string-like
roots. The leaves, including the
stalk, are about 18 ins. long and 4
ins. broad, with a bright green plaited
blade. The bright rose-red flowers,
with a blotch of orange in the throat,
are over 2 ins. across, and are borne
on scapes 18 ins. high. (Gard. Chron.
1904, xxxv. 20.)
K. rotunda (X. /onga).—A very old
East Indian species about a foot high,
having numerous irregularly shaped
aromatic root-stocks ; long - stalked,
oblong, lance-shaped leaves, smooth
and green above, downy and purple
beneath. The sweet-scented white
flowers, striped with red on the
margins, appear in summer. (Bot.
Mag. tt. 920, 6054; Garden, 1888,
t. 662.)
K. secunda.—A native of the
Khasia Hills, Assam, etc., with leaves
3 to 4 ins, long, membranous, obliquely
lance-shaped, pointed. Flowers in
August and September, reddish with
a white centre. (Sot. Mag. t. 6999.)
LACHENALIA (after J/ons. de la
Chenal (b. 1786, d. 1800), a Swiss
botanical author). Nat. Ord. Liliacee.
—A genus containing about forty
species of South African bulbous
plants closely related to the Hyacinths
and Scillas, having tunicated egg-
shaped bulbs, fleshy strap - shaped
leaves sometimes mottled or spotted,
and erect scapes bearing numerous
drooping tubular flowers, in which
the three inner segments are often
longer than the three outer ones.
Comparatively few species are
THE BULB BOOK
LACHENALIA
cultivated, and these chiefly in
botanical collections. A few hybrids
have been raised, and are an improve-
ment on the natural species from a
garden point of view. Grown in pots
or pans and massed close together,
Lachenalias are elegant plants when
in blossom during the winter and
early spring months (from January to
Fic. 222.—Lachenalia. (3.)
April and May). The best time to
pot the bulbs is about the end of July
or early in August, using a compost
of two parts fibrous loam, one part
leaf-mould, and one part well-rotted
cow-manure ; to this may be added a
good sprinkling of coarse silver sand,
the whole being thoroughly mixed.
From six to ten bulbs, according to
size, may be placed in a 5-in. pot,
covering them with about } in. of
soil. The bulbs may also be planted
in flattish pans or in wire hanging-
baskets. In the latter case the baskets
must be lined with moss to prevent
323
LACHENALIA
the soil dropping out. After potting
or basketing, the soil may receive a
good watering to settle it, and the
plants should be placed in a cold
frame or in the greenhouse. Until
growth has fairly started the soil
should be kept just moist, the supply
of water increasing or decreasing
afterwards, ‘according to growth and
the state of the weather. As the
plants are tender they must be
sheltered in a greenhouse in winter,
and should have a minimum tempera-
ture of about 45° F. When the
fiower-stems are showing, a little weak
liquid manure two or three times a
week will be beneficial When
flowering is quite over and the leaves
begin to wither, the plants may be
transferred to the frame again, and
kept dry until the period for repotting
comes round. Then the stock may be
increased by separating the offsets,
and growing them on separately from
the mother bulbs. The blackish
shining seeds may also be sown, when
thoroughly ripe in rich gritty soil in
pots or pans, and in a temperature of
60° to 65° F. When large enough to
handle easily, the seedlings should be
pricked out into other pots, pans, or
boxes, and grown on in a sunny place
near the glass when established. In
about three years flowering bulbs are
produced from seeds. The following
are a few of the best Lachenalias :—
L. aurea, — Leaves broad, fleshy,
channelled, spotted with dark purple.
Flowers golden - yellow fading to
purple, borne on purple spotted scapes
a foot or more high. The variety
gigantea is a much finer plant than
the type. (Bot. Mag. t. 5992.)
L. aureo-refilexa.— As the name
indicates, this is a hybrid between ZL.
aurea and L. reflexa. It has bright
yellow fiowers, the outer segments
being tipped with green, and fading
to reddish-brown. The fleshy lance-
THE BULB BOOK
LACHENALIA
shaped recurved leaves
spotted.
L. Cami. — A fine seedling form,
having shining green leaves about 9
ins. long mottled with dull brown.
From twelve to twenty flowers are
borne on a heavily blotched scape
about 1 ft. high, the colour being
orange-yellow tinted with green,
with bright red buds.
L. contaminata.— Leaves roundish
spotted. Flowers white, often tinted
with pink. (Bot. Mag. t. 1401.)
L. convallarioides.—This species
has solitary tapering leaves 6 to 12
ins. long and 1 in. broad, and bell-
shaped flowers purple-pink in bud,
but afterwards white with a heather-
like scent. The colour and shape
remind one of Lily of the Valley.
(Gard, 1904, Ixv. 213, 264.)
L. fistulosa.— This species is
distinct in growth, the two fleshy
leaves being nearly as broad as long.
The sweet-scented flowers are tinged
with pale blue at the base and tipped
with purple.
L. glaucina.—Leaves, usually two,
lance-shaped, spotted, about 1 ft. long.
Flowers white, more or less tinted
with yellow and red. (Bot. Mag. t.
3552.)
L, isopetala,—A rare species 4 to
8 ins. high, with two long pointed
leaves, and pale flowers tinged with
pale rose or red,
L. lilacina,—A rare species, having
short and very narrow leaves, and
pretty flowers of bright lilac shaded
blue, borne on stems densely mottled
with reddish-brown,
L. Nelsoni.—A fine hybrid between
L. aurea and L, tricolor, and named
after the Rev. John Nelson, who raised
the first hybrid Lachenalia. It is a
free grower, and has stout scapes over
a foot high of rich yellow flowers. A
fine plant for growing in bold masses,
L. orchioides. — Closely related to
are not
324
LACHENALIA
I. glaucina, and very variable in
colour. Leaves deep green spotted,
and spikes of yellowish or whitish
flowers more or less tinted with red
or blue.
L. pallida.—A rare species with
long fleshy erect leaves, purple on
the under-surface. The small erect
flowers are borne in dense spikes and
are pure white tipped with green.
L. pendula.—A fine species, remark-
able for its large bulbs, deep green
lance-shaped leaves sometimes faintly
mottled with brown. Flowers 1} to
2 ins. long, orange-red tipped with
emerald green and purple, and borne
on scapes 12 to 18 ins. high. (Sot.
Mag. t. 590.) The variety Aureliana
has finer flowers, and somewhat
glaucous leaves. It is said to be
naturalised in Provence. (Rev. Hort.
1890, t. 396.)
L. pustulata.—Leaves fleshy, lance-
shaped, 6 to 9 ins. long, wrinkled.
Flowers whitish. (Bot. Mag. t. 817.)
L. racemosa,—Leaves lance-shaped,
much wrinkled. Flowers whitish
tinted with red. (Bot. Mag. t.
1517.)
L. refiexa.—A species with pairs of
dark green, deeply-channelled and
recurved leaves thickened into a
horny tip. The long yellow flowers
are swollen in the middle and almost
closed at the mouth.
L. Regeliana.—A hybrid between
L. reflexa and L. tricolor aurea,
having unspotted leaves and pure
yellow flowers.
L. rosea.—A very rare species
distinguished by its unspotted leaves,
6 to 9 ins. long, and bright red
flowers.
L, rubida.—Leaves slightly mottled
with brown. Flowers ruby-red, borne
on heavily spotted scapes. (Bot.
Mag. t. 993.) In the varieties tigrina
and punctata the flowers are heavily
spotted with deep red.
THE BULB BOOK
_ LAPEYROUSIA
L, tricolor.—A well-known species
with broad fleshy green leaves about
12 ins, long, mottled with dull purple.
From twelve to twenty tubular
flowers, red, yellow, and green, are
borne on scapes about 1 ft. high.
(Bot. Mag. t. 82.) There are many
varieties, the best-known being luteola,
with quite yellowish flowers ; aurea,
bright yellow; gquadricolor, with
several shades; superba, a fine form
with large flowers ; and Warez, bright
yellow tipped with green.
L. unifolia is remarkable for having
only one narrow leaf with blood-red
blotches, and dense trusses of white
flowers.
L. versicolor.—A variable species,
having blister-like blotches on the
leaves, and bearing small bell-shaped
flowers varying from green and yellow
to pink and purple.
L. violacea.— A _ strong-growing
species with spotted leaves and white
inflated flowers tinged with violet
and green.
LAPEYROUSIA (after P. Picot de
la Peyrouse, a Toulouse botanist,
1744-1818). Nat. Ord. Iridex,.—This
genus contains over thirty species of
plants having corms with matted
tunics, roundish, linear, or narrow
sword-shaped leaves arranged dis-
tichously, and starry six-petalled
flowers. The best-known member
of the genus is still called Anomatheca
cruenta—a name that has been re-
tained for the present in this work
(see p. 82). The plants which are
all natives of South and Tropical
Africa are generally confined to
botanical collections, and are of little
garden value. The following species
may be noted :—L. anceps, bluish-
purple; L. corymbosa, bright blue
with a white band at base (Bot. Mag.
t. 595); L. fissifolia, white or rose,
sweet-scented (Bot. Mag. t. 1246);
325
LATHYRUS
and L. grandiflora, bright scarlet
(Bot. Mag. t. 6924).
LATHYRUS (Lathuros, ancient
Greek name of the Pea). Nat. Ord.
Leguminose. — This genus contains
about a hundred and seventy species
of hardy annuals and perennials, and
includes the Sweet Pea and the Ever-
lasting Pea. Most of the species
have fibrous roots, remarkable, like all
the Leguminose, for the numerous
warty nodules containing bacteria
that are borne on the roots. The
most noted tuberous-rooted kind
is—
L. tuberosus. — A species widely
distributed throughout Europe,
Western Asia, and Northern Africa,
and naturalised even in parts of the
British Islands. It has tuberous
root-stocks, from which arise four-
angled climbing stems 2 to 3 ft long.
The leaves are composed of two
oblong elliptic more or less pointed
leaflets, at the base of which are
narrow semi-sagittate stipules. The
large sweet-scented bright pink or
rose flowers appear from May to
July, three to six on a long stalk.
This species will grow luxuriantly
in any good garden soil, and may be
increased by division of the root-
stocks or by seeds sown in the open
air when ripe or in spring.
LEONTICE (leon, a lion; in refer-
ence to the supposed resemblance of
the leaf to the point of a lion’s foot).
Nat. Ord. Berberideew.— A small
genus of tuberous-rooted herbs having
leaves twice- or thrice-pinnately cut,
and yellow flowers in racemes or
panicles. Sepals six to nine, petal-
like; petals six, much shorter than
the sepals. Stamens six,
These plants flourish in light sandy
soil in warm positions in the rockery
or border, but the tuberous root-
THE BULB BOOK
LEUCOCORYNE
stocks should be protected with
litter or bracken, etc., in severe
winters. The plants may be increased
by seeds sown in cold frames when
ripe, or by division of the root-stocks
in spring.
L. Alberti, from Turkestan, grows
about 1 ft. high, and has five-parted
digitate leaves with bluntly elliptic
lobes. The golden-yellow flowers,
striped outside with red, appear in
April in conical clusters,
L, altaica (Bongardia Rauwolfi).—
From the Altai Mountains, has three-
parted leaves divided into five elliptic
blue-green leaflets, and produces its
terminal clusters of yellow flowers
in April (Lot. Mag. t. 3245).
L. darwasica, from Bokhara, is
somewhat similar, as is also
L. Leontopetalum, from the Levant,
which has large tuberous roots,
known as Lion Turnips, much-divided
leaves, and yellow flowers.
L. triphylla, from N. America,
grows from 2 to 3 ft. high, and pro-
duces its white flowers in May. The
leaves when dried are very fragrant-
smelling.
LEUCOCORYNE (/eukos,
koryne, a club; referring to the
sterile anthers). Nat. Ord. Liliacez.
—A small genus of Chilian plants hav-
ing tunicated bulbs or corms, narrow
leaves, and few-flowered umbels of
salver - shaped flowers with a cylin-
drical tube. There are three per-
fect stamens, and three staminodes.
These plants can only be regarded
as half-hardy except in the more
favoured parts of the Kingdom, and
are not very well-known. They
require the same cultural treatment
as the Ixias—which see (p. 319).
The species best known are
L. alliacea, white; L. purpurea,
lavender and crimson maroon (Gard.
Chron, 1894, xlvi, 144).
white ;
326
LEUCOJUM
LEUCOJUM (leukos, white ; ion, a
violet ; referring to the colour and
fragrance of the flowers), SNOWFLAKE.
Nat. Ord. Amaryllidee.— A genus
containing nine species of ornamental
herbs having tunicated bulbs, narrow
strap-shaped leaves, and large broadly
bell-shaped, snowdrop-like blossoms.
The Snowflakes flourish in ordinary
garden soil of a rich and sandy nature,
and once planted may be left to look
after themselves. To be effective they
should be massed in bold clumps in
the rockery, or border, or between
deciduous shrubs. They are readily
increased by offsets, which should be
detached after the leaves have
withered. The following species are
good garden plants :—
L. estivum.—This free - growing
species, popularly known as _ the
“Summer Snowflake,” is widely dis-
Fic. 223.—Leucojum estivum, bulb. (3.)
tributed over Central and S. Europe
from Britain and France to the
Crimea, being found in wet meadows
and osier beds in the south-eastern
parts of England. The egg-shaped
bulbs are 1 to 13 ims. through, and
give rise to bluntly strap-shaped
leaves 12 to 18 ins. long. The droop-
ing pure white flowers, about 1 in.
long, are tipped with green, and
appear from the end of April to the
THE BULB BOOK
LEUCOJUM
end of May. (Bot. Mag. t. 1210;
Red. Tal. t. 135.)
L. autumnale (Acis autumnalis).—
This species is found wild from
Portugal and Moroeco to the Ionian
Islands. The roundish bulbs are
only about 3 in. thick, and the slender
thread-like leaves are usually pro-
duced after the flowers have withered
in August and September. The
blossoms are white tinted with pink,
the segments being five- to seven-
veined. (Sot. Mag. t. 960.) The
variety cephalonica has a two-valved
spathe instead of a single linear one;
and the variety pulchellum produces
its white pendulous fiowers at the
same time as the leaves. Tender.
L. hyemale (Acis hiemalis).— A
native of 8. France, with small round
bulbs and narrow leaves about 1 ft.
long at the same time as the flowers.
These are white tinged with green.
outside, and appear in April, and not
in winter as the name Ayemale would
indicate. (Bot. Mag. t. 6711.)
L. longifolium (Acis longifolia).—
This grows wild at an altitude of
4500 to 6000 ft., on the Corsican
Mountains. It has small brown-
coated bulbs, very slender, flaccid
thread-like leaves 6 to 12 ins. long,
and small white flowers } to } in.
long in April and May.
L. pulchellum (2, Hernandez).—
A native of Sardinia and the Balearic
Isles, closely related to Z. cestivum,
from which it differs chiefiy in having
narrower leaves and smaller fiowers
somewhat later in the season. Fig.
224,
L. roseum (Acis rosea).— A small-
bulbed Corsican plant with thread-
like leaves after the flowers, and rosy-
red blossoms } in, long, in September
and October (Sw. Brit. Fl. Gard.
t. 297).
L. trichophyllum (Acis_ ftricho-
phylla)—A pretty little plant from
327
LEUCOJUM
Fic. 225.—Leucojum vernum carpaticum. (}%.)
THE BULB BOOK
LEWISIA
S. Europe and W. Africa, with
thread-like leaves, and white flowers
in April (Bot. Reg. t. 544). The
variety grandiflorum has somewhat
larger flowers (Red. Lil. t. 217).
L, vernum.—The best of the genus,
native of Central and Southern
Europe, and now naturalised in parts
of Dorset. It has round green-
skinned bulbs about 1 in. through,
and strap-shaped leaves 6 to 9 ins,
long and about 3 in. broad. The
sweet-scented fiowers, pure white
tipped with green, appear in March
and April. (Bot. Mag. t. 46.) The
variety biforum or Vagneri, has
more than one flower on a scape, and
often produces its blossoms as early
as January and February. (Gard.
Chron. 1908, xliii. 131.) In the
variety carpaticum the white seg-
ments are tipped with yellow instead
of green. (Bot. Mag. t. 1993.)
LEWISIA (after Capt. Lewis, the
traveller). Nat. Ord. Portulacee.
L. rediviva (Spatlum).—A pretty
Fic. 226.—Lewisia rediviva.
North American plant 1 to 3 ins,
high, with edible, tapering, fleshy,
328
LIATRIS
red-skinned roots, white within.
Leaves densely tufted, linear, fleshy,
withering on the appearance of the
flowers. The latter, 3 to 4 ins. across,
appear in summer on one-flowered
scapes, jointed above the middle,
pink, with a nearly white centre.
- Sepals six to eight, broadly ovate,
contorted, imbricate, finely veined
with red, persistent.
L,. Tweediei.—A pretty little plant
forming tufts of bright green fleshy
spoon-shaped leaves with rather long
stoutish stalks. The individual
flowers are about an inch across, and
of a pale salmon-pink colour with
yellow anthers varying to pale yellow
when fully expanded. They appear
in June and July, one to each stem.
(Bot. Mag. t. 7633.)
The Lewisias should be planted in
a sunny nook or crevice in the
rockery, where the fleshy roots will
obtain plenty of moisture, and
because the flowers will not readily
develop in shady spots. After bloom-
ing, Z. rediviva shrivels up into a
withered, string-like mass. In very
hot seasons the plants should be
watered every day. Propagation is
effected by seeds, or by dividing the
roots in spring.
LIATRIS (derivation unknown),
SnakERooT. Nat. Ord. Compositz.—
A genus containing about twenty
species of North American perennials
having tuberous root-stocks and
erect slender stems furnished with
narrow leaves and purplish or white
heads of flowers in spikes, racemes,
or panicles,
The plants are nearly all perfectly
hardy, and when grown in bold masses
are effective in the flower-border,
owing to the dense masses of blossom
which are usually produced in August
and September and open from the
top downwards. Any ordinary good
THE BULB BOOK
LIATRIS
garden soil will suit the Liatrises, and
the stock may be increased in autumn
or spring by division of the tuberous
root-stocks, or by seeds sown in
autumn or spring.
L. Chapmanni grows about 3 ft.
high, and produces violet - purple
spikes of bloom. Being a native of
Florida, it is safer to protect the
tubers in winter with bracken, litter,
etc., or to have them taken up and
stored in a frost-proof place until
spring, in the same way as Dahlias.
L. elegans.—This. purple-flowered
species grows from 2 to 4 ft. high,
the lower leaves being spoon-shaped,
the upper ones narrow and sometimes
spiny-tipped (Bot. Reg. t. 267).
L. graminifolia—This species has
narrow grass-like leaves on stems
about 3 ft. high, and loose spikes of
violet-purple flowers. The variety
puosa has narrow hair-like bracts
to the flower-heads. (Bot. Mag.
t. 3829.) The variety dubia grows
about 6 ft. high, 2} ft. of which are
bright deep shining lilac flowers.
(Gard. 1899, lvi. 212.)
L. odoratissima (7'rilisa odora-
tissima).—aA pretty species 2 to 4 ft.
high, with bright purple flower-heads,
and leaves which emit a vanilla-like
odour when dried, or cut, or bruised.
L. punctata.—This species has large
tuberous root-stocks, and _leaf-
stems dotted with brown, the violet-
purple flowers being borne on the
tops of stems 2 to 3 ft. high.
L. pyenostachya grows from 3 to
5 ft. high, and is known by its stiffish
leaves and pale purple fiower-heads,
borne in dense spikes 12 to 18 ins.
long.
This species is often treated as a
biennial, the seeds being sown one
year in cold frames in autumn, to
produce flowering plants the next.
L. seariosa grows about 3 ft. high,
and has very long and narrow leaves
329
LIBERTIA
and purple flower-heads, each about
2 ins. across (Lot. Mag. t. 1709; Bot.
Reg. t. 1654).
L. spicata.—A handsome and well-
known species 2 to 3 ft. high, having
lance-shaped pointed leaves fringed
at the base, and bright purple flower-
heads in spikes 6 to 15 ins. long (Bot.
Mag. t. 1411).
L. squarrosa.— A fine species 2 to 3
ft. high, with stiffish leaves and
bright purple flower - heads, the
involucre of which is composed of
elongated leafy bracts.
LIBERTIA (after Marie a Libert,
a Belgian lady botanist). Nat. Ord.
Trideze.—There are several species in
the genus, but the best is—
L. formesa.—A beautiful Chilian
perennial with a creeping root-stock,
from whlch arise deep green, narrow,
sword-shaped and more or _ less
recurving leaves about 1 ft. long.
The pure white flowers appear in
May and June, and open from the
bottom upwards on the spikes about
2ft. high. (Lot. Reg. t. 1630; Lot.
Mag. t. 3294.)
Other species of Libertia, all with
white flowers, are L. grandiflora, L.
ixioides, L. paniculata (/ot. Mag.
t. 6263), and L. pulchella.
Libertias are fairly hardy in the
milder parts of the Kingdom, and
should be planted in bold masses in
the border or rock-garden in warm,
sheltered nooks. They prefer a
compost of rich sandy peat, and
might therefore be associated with
such Ericaceous plants as Rhodo-
dendrons, Azaleas, Kalmias, and
Heaths. The plants are most easily
propagated by severing the root-
stocks with a sharp knife in spring
just as growth is about to commence.
LILIUM (from /eirion, the Greek
name of Lily ; or from the Celtic //,
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
white), Liry. Nat. Ord. Liliacexe.—
A large genus of ornamental flowering
plants, usually having large scaly
bulbs and erect stems bearing lance-
shaped leaves, and one or more showy,
more or less drooping or horizontal
flowers. The funnel-shaped or bell-
shaped perianth has six distinct,
erect, spreading or recurying seg-
ments or petals, the three inner ones
being usually larger and broader than
the three outer ones. Stamens six,
with large brown, red, or orange
versatile anthers at the end of long
slender filaments.
The Liliums are natives of the
northern hemisphere, and are found
in a wild state in the New World in
Canada, California, and other parts
of the United States, and in the Old
World in Central and Southern
Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus, Asia
Minor, extending eastwards to Nepal,
the Himalayas, Burma, China, the
Philippine Islands, and Japan. With
such a wide range of distribution, it
is natural that Liliums should be
found growing under different condi-
tions as to soil, climate, temperature,
and elevation. To show at a glance
various habitats of the _ species,
Liliums may be classed into Old-
World species and New-World species
as follows : —
(i.) Orp-Wortp Litiums.
* [L. Alexandre.
+ L. auratum.
L Bakerianum. Burma.
* T. Batemannie. Japan.
+ L. Brownt, Japan.
* LT. bulbiferum. Europe.
+ L. callosum, Japan.
* TL. candidum. Europe.
* L. carniolicum, Carniola.
* TL. chalcedonicum. Europe.
+ L. concolor. China.
M L. cordifolium. Japan.
* LT. croceum. Europe.
Japan.
Japan,
330
LILIUM
THE BULB BOOK
Oxup-Worip Lintums—continued.
ca
ache.
tL
spe ae
iw oe
+ L. formosum.
im ee
. Hansone.
. Heldreichi.
. Henryt.
. Janke. Europe.
. japonicum.
. Kramert.
. Lankongense.
. Leichtline.
. leucanthum.
. Longiflorum.
. Lowi.
. Martagon.
. Maximowien.
.merabile.
. monadelphum.
. myriophyllum.
. neilgherense.
. nepalense.
. ochraceum.
. orypetalum.
. papuliferum.
. philippinense.
. polyphyllum.
. pomponium.
. primulinum.
. pyrenaicum.
. roseum.
. Rostherni,
. rubellum.
. speciosum.
. sulphureum.
. sutchuenense.
. taliense.
. tenuifolium.
. testaceum.
. tigrinum.
. umbellatum.
. Wallacet.
. Yoshidai.
. yunnanense.
davuricum, Siberia.
Delavayt. China.
Duchartrei. Tibet.
elegans. Japan.
Fargesi. China.
China.
Himalayas.
Japan,
Greece.
Japan.
giganteum.
Japan.
Japan.
China,
Japan.
China.
Japan.
Burma.
Europe.
Japan.
China.
Caucasus,
China.
India.
Nepal.
China.
Himalayas.
China.
Himalayas.
Europe.
Burma.
Europe.
Himalayas.
China.
Japan,
Japan.
Himalayas.
China.
China.
Siberia.
Europe.
Japan, China.
Europe.
Japan.
Japan.
China.
Philippines.
LILIUM
(ii.) New-Worip Littums,
M L. Bakeri. N. America.
+ L. Bolandert. Oregon:
M L. canadense. Canada.
M L. Catesheti. N.W. America.
+ L. Columbianum. Oregon, ete.
.Grayt. N. Carolina.
+ L. Humboldti. California.
+ L. Kelloggi. California.
M L. lucidum. Oregon.
.maritimum. California.
+ L. nitidum. California.
. occidentale. California.
+t L. pardalinum. California.
. Parryi. California.
+ L. parvum. California.
+ L. purpureum. Oregon.
+ L. philadelphicum. U.S.A.
+ LZ, Reedlt. California.
* [ rubescens, U.S.A.
M LL. superbum. U.S.A.
* TL. Washingtonianum.
U.S.A.
From the cultivator’s point of view
all the Liliums mentioned above may
be divided into three main groups so
far as the soil is concerned. Those
marked with an asterisk (*) may be
looked upon as perfectly hardy in
most parts of the United Kingdom,
and as plants that will flourish in
any good garden soil so long as it
has been deeply dug or trenched, and
enriched with a fair amount of well-
rotted manure, If the soil should be
naturally of rich loamy character
with a certain amount of grit in it,
so much the better.
The kinds marked with a dagger
(+) are somewhat more fastidious, and
yet they are excellent plants for the
open air. The soil in which they are
most likely to grow well should
consist of sandy loam, peat, and
leaf-soil in about equal proportions,
and should be of course well drained.
The Liliums marked m are also
fine garden plants but require special
situations, either prepared or natural,
331
LILIUM
if they are to yield good results.
The soil should be of sandy loam,
peat, and leaf-soil in about equal
proportions, as for the second group ;
but in addition there must be an
abundance of moisture, but nothing
in the way of stagnant water.
The border of a running stream, or
brook, or on the edge of a lake or
pond where the water is constantly
being freshened, would therefore suit
this particular group of American
Liliums admirably.
With the exception of such kinds
as ZL. Low, L. nepalense, L.
neilgherense, L. Wallichianum, L.
Bakerianum, L. primulinum, and
L. philippinense — which are too
tender for most parts of the United
Kingdom, all the other kinds may be
grown in the open air. Special
cultural hints are given below in
certain cases.
Time To Piant.—Lilies may be
planted in the open air in early
autumn or in spring. Autumn,
however, is the better season, as the
roots from the base of bulbs become
established in their action before the
winter, and thus keep the bulbs well
supplied with nourishment. When
planted in spring—and bulbs imported
then must necessarily be planted at
that period—the bulb itself is already
anxious to send up its leafy stem
before basal roots have formed, and
more or less at the expense of the
reserve material in the fleshy scale-
leaves. At this period, however, the
autumn-planted bulbs are already
well established, and in addition to
basal roots from the bulbs a fresh
supply of roots is being developed
from the joints of the stems in
many cases. This action is so well
known to growers of Liliums in pots,
that the bulbs are not at first covered
with soil, but left exposed. In
due course roots emerge from the
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
aérial stems, and handfuls of soil
are added from time to time for
them to work in. The two sets of
roots thus absorb large quantities of
food from the soil, and enable the
plants to flower well in due course.
Some kinds develop stem roots more
readily than others.
DertH to Prant.—The bulbs of
Liliums are not all of the same size—
some being larger than others. In
the case of autumn planting, a good
rule to follow is to plant the bulbs in
holes about three times deeper than
their own diameter. This means that
some bulbs will be from 6 ins. to 10
ins, deep, having from 4 ins. to 6 ins.
of soil over the crowns. This deep
planting is necessary, mainly as a
protection against winter frosts,
depredations of mice, etc., and also
because the soil is several degrees
warmer a few inches down than it is
on the surface.
When planting bulbs in spring, the
same methods may be adopted, if the
bulbs are to remain in the soil during
the winter, but it is not essential to
bury the bulbs so deeply, if it is
intended to lift them in autumn, as
the weather gradually becomes more
genial,
Positron. — As a rule, Liliums
should be planted in spots sheltered
from cold biting winds, and where
they may receive a little shade, cast
from trees, during the hottest portion
of the day. It is useless to plant
them beneath trees with branches
almost sweeping the ground; but
between deciduous or evergreen
shrubs, not too close together,
Liliums often flourish and are
protected at the base by the stems
and leaves of their neighbours.
Por-cuLTtuRE.—Many Liliums are
cultivated in pots for the decoration
of the greenhouse or conservatory,
and also in thousands by market-
332
LILIUM
growers, the latter being particularly
partial to such kinds as JL. longi-
jlorum, L. speciosum (or lancifolium),
L. tigrinum, and L. candidum. The
bulbs are placed in pots about twice
their own diameter, the compost used
being chiefly good turfy loam with a
little peat or leaf-mould, and sand.
Root action is established before
much heat is applied, but afterwards
the temperature is raised to hasten
growth. When the plants have ceased
to flower, they should be plunged
outside in ashes or soil, and kept
dryish, and when quite withered
should be stored in a cool airy place
till spring. The bulbs should then
be shaken out of the old soil, and
repotted in fresh compost. At the
same time all offsets should be placed
apart for increasing the stock if
necessary.
There is now a very large trade
done in imported bulbs by market-
growers, and they never worry about
propagation. The bulbs, however,
are not all grown at one time. Some-
times they are forced into early
growth by heat, if wanted during the
winter months. At other times they
are kept in check or “retarded” in
refrigerators, and taken out in
batches as required; while still
another section may be grown on
under what may be called natural
conditions.
PropaGaTion, — Liliums may be
propagated by (i.) offsets from the
older bulbs ; (ii.) by bulb seales ; (iii.)
by bulbils or vegetative seed-like
bodies in the axils of the leaves of
some species, e.g., L. bulbiferum and
L. tigrinum ; and (iv.) by seeds. The
first three methods are easy enough.
The offsets, scales, or bulbils should
be placed in beds of rich sandy and
well-drained soil, or in pots or pans
if there are only small quantities.
It will take the scales and bulbils
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
from two to three years to reach the
flowering stage, but good offsets may
develop more quickly.
As many species of Lilium deterior-
ate in our climate and are apt to die
out altogether in time, it is a good
practice to save seeds when possible,
and raise plants from them. In this
way a new and acclimatised race
may be produced that would be
likely to last longer than their
progenitors. The seeds, when
thoroughly ripe should be sown in
pots or pans of rich gritty loam and
leaf-soil, and covered with about 3 in.
of mould. They should be placed in
a cold frame or greenhouse, and in
due course, when the seedlings are
large enough to handle easily, they
may be carefully pricked out into
similar pots or pans, or even into
gritty soil ina cold frame. The soil
must always be kept moist when the
seedlings are growing, otherwise the
newly forming bulblets may suffer
beyond recall. It will take from five
to ten or eleven years to obtain
flowering bulbs from seed.
There are a few hybrid Liliums
(noted below), but not so many as
there might be. No doubt as time
goes on, greater attention will be
devoted to developing a new race.
Imported bulbs often arrive in a
more or less injured or diseased
condition, These should be over-
hauled immediately, separating the
sound bulbs from the diseased or
injured ones. All good bulbs may
be planted immediately ; shrivelled
ones are best stored in dampish coco-
nut fibre for some time, until they
“plump up” ; but all diseased portions
should be burned.
The following is a list of Liliums in
cultivation at present :—
L. Alexandre (1. Uke-Uri).—Sup-
posed to be a natural hybrid between
L. longiflorum or L. japonicum and
333
LILIUM
L. auratum. Flowers 6 to 8 ins.
across, pure white, in June and July.
Japan.
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
being more or less spotted with
crimson ; tricolor, very robust habit
and large flowers without any brown
dots, but with copious spots and
papille.
Fic. 227.—Lilium Alexandre. (4.)
L. auratum.—This is the “Golden
Lily of Japan.” It grows 2 to 6 ft.
high, and has ivory-white: flowers 9
to 12 ins. across, each petal having a
broad bright yellow band down the
centre, and numerous deep purple
blotches on the inner surface, the
basal portion being covered with
stiffish purple hairs or papille. (Lot.
Mag. t. 5338; Il. d. Serr. 1528, 31;
Elwes, Lil. t. 15.)
There are many forms of L. aura-
tum, the best known being platy-
phyllum, with richly-spotted broad-
petalled flowers about 1 ft. across ;
virginale, very similar but spotless ;
rubro-vittatum, with a red band down
the centre of the petals; Wetter, pure
white, without spots, but banded with
yellow, and sometimes tipped with
reddish-brown ; pictum, finely spotted
crimson-tipped petals; DParkmanm,
something like rubro-vittatum, but
Fic. 228.—Lilium auratum. (4.)
L. Bakeri.—A native of the sandy
woods of Washington Territory and
S. British Columbia. It has ovoid
bulbs exactly like those of L. cana-
dense, about 5 ins in circumference.
The rather stout roundish stems are
2 to 6 ft. high, and the bright green
lanceolate leaves are mostly in whorls.
The orange-red flowers, about 14 ins.
long, are thickly spotted with maroon
in the lower half.
L. Bakerianum,—This species is
found at an elevation of 4000 ft. on
the Shan Hills in Upper Burma, and
at 6000 ft. in Yunnan, China. It
grows 2 to 4 ft. high, and has narrow
stalkless leaves, densely pubescent
beneath. The broadly funnel-shaped
flowers about 4 ins. long, are creamy-
white, copiously spotted with brown
inside towards the base. Best grown
in a greenhouse.
L. Batemannie.— This is now
334
LILIUM
classed as a variety of JL. elegans.
It grows 3 to 5 ft. high, and has
unspotted flowers 4 to 5 ins. across,
of a glowing reddish-apricot tint.
Fic. 229.—Lilium Bakerianum. (%.)
L. Bolanderi.— A Californian
species, 15 to 3 ft. high, with ob-
lanceolate leaves mainly in four
whorls of twelve to fifteen, and
bearing deep crimson, dark spotted,
funnel-shaped flowers, something like
L. Grayi (Garden, Oct. 1890).
L. Browni.—A magnificent Japanese
Lilium, 2 to 4 ft. high, with purple-
spotted stems, and horizontal, tubular
bell-shaped flowers 6 to 9 ins. long,
Fic. 230.—Liliwm Browni, (4.)
pure white with a purple line down
the centre of the three inner petals,
the whole being suffused with purple
outside (7. d. Serr. t. 47). There
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
are a few forms such as chloraster,
odorum, platyphyllum, and viridu-
lum.
L, bulbiferum,— A well - known
species 2 to 4 ft. high, with erect
crimson flowers spotted with brown,
and shading off to orange-red. Shiny
black bulbils are borne freely in the
axils of the leaves. Europe. (Bot.
Mag. tt. 36,1018 ; Elwes, Lil. t. 23.)
L. Burbanki.—A hybrid between
L. pardalinum and L. Washington-
anum, with orange-yellow flowers
spotted with purple.
L. callosum.—A native of China
and Japan. Flowers drooping, orange-
scarlet, 15 ins. long, borne in clustered
racemes on stems 2 to 3 ft. high.
(Fl. d. Serr. t. 230; Elwes, Lil. t. 41.)
L. canadense (L. penduliflorum).—
Flowers, drooping, funnel - shaped,
varying in colour from bright orange-
yellow to pale bright red, the upper
half being heavily spotted with purple
brown (Sot. Mag. t. 800). There are
varieties known as rubrum, parvum,
and flavum. Canada. (Pot. Mag.
tt. 800, 6146; Hlwes, Lil. t. 27.) L.
canadense is often confused with
L. superbum, but is quite distinct
from it.
L. candidum.—This is the well-
known pure white Madonna Lily of
S. Europe, Asia Minor, etc. There are
a few varieties not of much conse-
quence. (ot. Mag. t. 278.) This is
best grown in soil not too rich, and it
is also better to leave it undisturbed
when well established. Otherwise
the Lily disease may play havoe with
the plants in a short time. (ot.
Mag. t. 278; Elwes, Inl. t. 9.) A
good Lily for forcing. Fig. 231.
L, carniolicum,—F lowers drooping,
recurved, 15 to 2 ins. deep, varying
from bright orange-yellow to scarlet.
S. Europe. (Hlwes, Lil. t. 45.)
L, Catesbeei.—F lowers of a bright
orange-red, heavily spotted with
335
LILIUM
purple, petals slightly recurved. An
elegant species. N.W. America.
(Bot. Mag. t. 259.)
Fic. 231.—Lilium candidum. (4.)
L. chaleedonicum,—A well-known
“Turk’s Cap” Lily, 2 to 3 ft. high,
with bright scarlet flowers having the
petals rolled back (Bot. Mag. t. 30;
Elwes, Il. t. 43).
This species has been crossed with
L. excelsum, and produced a hybrid
called Leerenst (Gard. 1895, 11).
L. columbianum (L. nitidum).—
This resembles a small L. Humboldt.
Flowers drooping, reddish-orange or
yellow, with reflexed petals spotted
with red purple. Oregon and British
Columbia. (Z/wes, Lil. t. 31.)
L. concolor (L. sinicum).—F lowers
bright scarlet spotted with deep
brown purple at the base. China
and Japan. (Bot. Mag. t. 1165;
Elwes, Inl. t. 185.)
There are several varieties, such as
Buschianum, bright scarlet spotted
with black ; Coridion, bright yellow
spotted with brown; Parthenewon,
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
orange-yellow with faint spots; pul-
chellum, scarlet crimson, spotted
black ; /uteum, yellow spotted purple-
red.
_ L, cordifolium.—Flowers tubular,
white spotted with purple brown at
the base, and borne on stems 3 to 4
ft. high. Leaves broadly heart-shaped,
ovate, with long stalks. This Japanese
species is like a dwarf form of the
Himalayan L. giganteum. (Bot. Mag.
t. 6637; Elwes, Lil. t.1.) L. Glehni,
from the Island of Sachalin, is similar
to L. cordifolium, but has more
numerous and smaller flowers.
L. croceum.—This is the well-
known orange or Saffron Lily of the
Fic. 232.—Liliwm croceum.
European Alps. It has cobwebby
stems 3 to 6 ft. high, golden orange
funnel-shaped flowers, sometimes
tinted with scarlet and spotted with
purple at the base. (Bot. Mag. t.
36, as L. bulliferum.)
L, Dalhansoni,—A hybrid between
the European L. dalmaticum and the
336
LILIUM
Japanese J. Hanson. Flowers dark
brownish-purple, on stems 5 ft. high.
(Garden, 18938, ii. 927.)
L. dauricum or davuricum (/,
pennsylvanicum).—This is often con-
fused with LZ. wmbellatum. It has
orange-scarlet flowers flushed with
red and spotted with black, Siberia.
(Bot. Mag. tt. 872, 1210; Elwes,
Tint, t. 21.)
L. Delavayi—A native of Yunnan,
Western China, distinguished by its
long slender rhizomes, slender downy
stems 1 to 2 ft. high, rather narrow
leaves 14 to 3 ins. long, and wine-red
openly funnel-shaped flowers heavily
dotted with brown inside.
L. Duchartrei.—A native of Eastern
Tibet and the mountains of W.
China, It has small bulbs borne at
the end of a long slender root-
stock, The very slender stems are
2 to 3 ft. high, sparsely furnished
with thin lance-shaped leaves 2 to 24
ins. long. The flowers, 14 to 2 ins.
long, are white, spotted inside with
reddish-brown, especially near the
edges of the segments. (Dot. Mag. t.
8072.)
L. elegans (/. aurantiacunm; L.
Thunbergianum).—Stems 1 to 2 ft.
high, with scarlet-orange cup-shaped
flowers 4 to 6 ins. across, slightly
spotted with purple near the base.
(Bot. Reg. 1839, t. 38.)
There are many fine varieties of
L. elegans, all excellent for planting
amongst low-growing shrubs or for
pot-culture. Amongst the best are
—Alice Wolson, clear lemon-yellow ;
alutaceum, bright apricot, spotted
black; atrosanguineum, deep red,
spotted black ; awrantiacum, orange-
yellow; Batemannie, clear apricot-
red, unspotted; Horsmonni, rich
crimson; Wallaced, rosy - apricot,
heavily spotted; and many others,
including flore pleno, a double-flowered
form with deep red blossoms,
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
L. Fargesi—This species was
collected with many others in W.
China by Father Farges, after whom
it isnamed. It hassmall ovoid bulbs,
slender stems about 1 ft. high, having
linear leaves 6 to 7 ins. long, and
yellow purple-spotted flowers with
much-reflexed segments.
L. formosum,—A native of the
mountains of Western China. It
grows about 3 ft. high, and has lance-
shaped leaves about 6 ins. long. The
white flowers are broadly funnel-
shaped, 6 to 7 ins. long, and the seg-
ments spreading only towards the
tips.
L. giganteum.—A magnificent Lily
from the high mountain forests of
Hupeh and Yunnan, China, It has
Fic. 233.—Lilium gigantewm, seed-pod.
large bulbs,and stems from 6 to 14 ft.
high, with heart-shaped ovate leaves,
gradually becoming smaller as they
ascend the stems, Flowers 5 to 6
ins. long, tubular, white, washed with
violet-purple in the throat, and
sweetly scented. (Bot. Mag. t. 4673 ;
Elwes, Lil, t. 21.) The variety yun-
nanense is very hardy, and has larger
337 Y
LILIUM
and better-coloured fiowers than the
type (Gard. 1904, Ixv. 406).
The best time to plant the bulbs
of L. giganteum is about the end of
April or early in May, leaving the
upper half uncovered with soil. It
is safer to lift the bulbs in autumn
and store them in frost-proof places
during the winter, as they are not
hardy except in the very mildest
parts of the Kingdom, where the large
seed-pods are also freely produced.
L. Grayi—A native of the Alle-
ghanies of Virginia and North
Carolina, related to L. canadense. It
has small roundish bulbs arising
annually from a creeping root-stock.
Stems 2 to 3 ft. high. Flowers
drooping, rich crimson, funnel-shaped,
heavily blotched with purple at the
yellowish base of the refiexed petals.
(Bot. Mag. t. 7234.)
L. Hansoni.—A fine Japanese Lily
3 to 4 ft. high, having bright orange-
yellow flowers with reflexed petals,
heavily spotted with blackish or
brownish purple (Z/wes, Lil. t. 34).
A good Lily for forcing.
L. Heldreichi—This species in-
habits the mountains of Greece at
an altitude of 6000 to 8000 ft. and is
intermediate between L. carniolicum
and L. chalcedonicum. It has ovoid
bulbs, stoutish green stems spotted
with purple, and 2 to 3 ft. high, each
bearing a solitary bright reddish-
yellow flower about 2 ins. long.
L. Henryi—A strong and free-
flowering species from the limestone
gorges of Central China. Stems 3 to
6 ft. high, furnished with lance-
shaped leaves 6 to 8 ins. long, and
having rich orange-red flowers 3 to 4
ins. across, spotted with black, and
having numerous raised papille
near the base. (Sot. Mag. t. 7177;
Garden, 1891, 830; Gard. Chron.
1890, viii. 380, fig. 75.)
L. Humboldti.—A graceful Cali-
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
fornian Lily 4 to 8 ft. high, with
oval lance-shaped leaves in whorls of
ten to twenty. Flowers drooping,
rich orange yellow, heavily spotted
with purple on the lower half of the
reflexed petals. (H/wes, Lil, t. 32.)
Fic. 234.—Lilium Henryi.
The variety Bloomerianum has
golden-yellow flowers tipped with
purple, and having large spots (/7.
d. Serr. tt. 1973-4) ; ocellatum, yellow,
heavily blotched with purple; also
magnificum, Orange, spotted maroon,
each spot oculated with crimson.
L. Janke,—A native of the
Transylvanian mountains, with bulbs
about 2 ins. in diameter, and stout
closely leafy stems 2 to 3 ft. high,
bearing pale yellow unspotted Howers
about 2 ins. long, the segments
reflexing from below the middle.
L. japonicum (L. odorum).—aA fine
Japanese species 1 to 3 ft. high, with
broadly funnel-shaped, sweet-scented
flowers of a pure ivory-white, some-
338
LILIUM
times tinged with purple outside, 6 to
9 ins. across when fully open (ot.
Mag. t. 1591 ; Elwes, Lit, t. 14).
Fic. 235.—Lilium japonicum. (4.)
A somewhat delicate species requir-
ing protection in winter in unfavour-
able localities. Itisa good greenhouse
Lily.
L, Kelloggi.—.A pretty Californian
Lily, 3 to 5 ft. high, resembling Z,
Columbianum. Flowers delicate,
pinkish purple, becoming deeper with
age, banded with yellow and finely
dotted with maroon on the reflexed
petals. From eight to twenty flowers
are borne in a truss. (Gard. Chron.
1903, xxxiil. 422; Garden, 1901, 1. f.
330.)
L. Kewense.—This is a hybrid
between ZL. Henryi and L. Browns
chloraster (Gard. 1900, lviii. 99, f.).
L. Krameri (J. LHlisabethw),—A
distinct and free-flowering Japanese
Lilium 3 to 4 ft. high, bearing sweet-
scented pink flowers (Bot. Mag. t.
6058 ; Hlwes, Lvl. t. 14).
L. lankongense.—A species from
Yunnan, West China (altitude 8000 to
9000 ft.), closely related to L. poly-
phyllum. The slender downy stems
are 1 to 2 ft. high, with narrow
leaves about 24 ins. long, and droop-
ing long-stalked flowers white or
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
purple, spotted with black, the seg-
ments being reflexed from low down.
L. Leichtlini_-A fine Japanese
species 3 to 4 ft. high, with drooping
citron-yellow flowers heavily spotted
with purple, the petals being rolled
back, as in the Turk’s Cap forms
(Bot. Mag. t. 5673 ; Elwes, Lil. t. 39).
There are a few forms, such as
majus, like the type but larger ;
platypetalum, with broad petals ; and
tigrinum, heavily spotted.
L. leucanthum,—A fine West
Chinese Lilium (altitude 4000 to 5000
ft.), closely related to ZL. Brownz,
and at one time considered to be
a variety of it (see Dot. Mag. t.
6722). It has large roundish bulbs
and sturdy stems 3 to 4 ft. high,
clothed with numerous lance-shaped
leaves about 3 ins. long. The funnel-
shaped perianth about 6 ins, long, is
milky-white, slightly tinged with
green near the base outside, unspotted,
and tinged with pale yellow towards
the base inside.
Fic. 236.—Lilium longiflorwm. (%.)
L. longiflorum.— A charming
Japanese Lilium, 1 to 3 ft. high,
339
LILIUM
with pure white tubular sweetly
scented flowers (Bot. Reg. t. 560).
This fine species is cultivated by
hundreds of thousands in a forced,
retarded, and natural state by
market growers, and is_ always
popular. There are several forms of
it, some much better than others,
Some of the best are Harrist, eximium
or Wilsoni, Takesima grandiflorum.
L. Lowi.—A native of Burma,
2 to 4 ft. high, with white bell-shaped
flowers more or less heavily spotted
with violet or crimson-purple (Lot.
Mag. t. 7232 ; Garden, 1894, 953).
Dr A. Henry says this species is
also very common on the bare grassy
mountains near Mengtse, China, at
elevations of 5000 to 7000 ft., and has
pink or purple-pink flowers.
This is too tender for most parts of
the Kingdom, and is best grown in
pots in the greenhouse.
L. Marhan.—A hybrid between the
white L. Martagon album and the
golden-yellow LZ. Hansoni. It has
stems 5 to 7 ft. high, and thick
petalled orange-yellow flowersstreaked
with brownish-red.
L. maritimum.—A native of Cali-
fornia, seldom growing more than
three miles from the ocean. It has
rhizomatous bulbs and stems 3 to 5
ft. high, wiih deep red bell-shaped
flowers spotted with dark purple.
It flourishes in a well-drained, cool,
moist soil, (H/wes, Lil. t. 12.)
L. Martagon,—The well-known
Turk’s Cap Lily of South Europe.
It grows 2 to 3 ft. high, and has
drooping flowers in chandelier-lhke
tiers, and with gracefully recurved
petals of a dull purple-red or violet-
rose, heavily spotted with carmine at
the base. (Bot. Mag. tt. 892, 1634 ;
Red. Lil, t. 146; Elwes, Lil, t. 33.)
There are several varieties, the
best known being a/bum, pure waxy
white; dalmaticum, pale to deep
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
purple ; and Cutan, with very deep
velvety crimson flowers,
L. Maximowiczi.— A Japanese
Lilium closely related to L. Leicht-
lini, but resembling LZ. tigrinum in
its small bulbs and flowers. The
latter are drooping, orange-red fading
to yellow at the tips, and heavily
blotched with deep purple. The
variety Bakeri has narrower leaves
with ciliated margins, and smaller
but more highly coloured flowers.
Regeli is similar to Bakeri, but has
large blotches on the flowers, and the
leaves are not ciliated on the margins.
(Elwes, Lil. t. 40.)
L, mirabile.—A fine Lily, native
of Western China, growing about 4
ft. high, the thin slender stems being
furnished with papery, heart-shaped
ovate leaves. The funnel-shaped
flowers, each 5 to 7 ins. long, are in
clusters of seven to fifteen, spreading
Fic. 237.—Liliwm myriophyllwm. (4.)
horizontally, and are white, tinted
with violet towards the margin.
L. monadelphum (/. Loddigesi-
anum).—A vigorous Caucasian Lily,
3 to 5 ft. high, with drooping, clear
pale yellow flowers borne in pyra-
midal clusters. The variety Szovits7-
anum (also well-known as colechicum)
has beautiful citron-yellow flowers
340
LILIUM
spotted with blackish-purple, as many
as thirty often hanging like bells
from the tops of the stems. (ot.
Mag. t. 1405; Elwes, Lil. t. 36.)
L. myriophyllum,—A fine Western
Chinese Lily, 23 to 5 ft. high, with
numerous narrow, lance - shaped,
closely-arranged leaves, and trumpet-
shaped blossoms of great substance,
with petals reflexed at the tips. The
colour is white washed with brown or
chocolate. (Bot. Mag. t. 8102; Flora
and Sylva, December 1905.)
L. neilgherense (1. tubiflorwm).—
A fine Indian species too tender for
open-air culture in the British
Islands. It grows from 2 to 3 ft.
high, and has sweet-scented, pale
sulphur - yellow, tubular flowers.
(Garden, 1885, ii. 488 ; Hlwes, Lil. t.
65; Bot. Mag. t. 6332.)
L. nepalense.—A native of India,
Burma, and China, being common at
elevations of 5000 to 9000 ft. in the
latter country. Stems 1 to 3 ft. high
with nodding bell-shaped flowers of a
beautiful soft yellow, the lower half
Fia. 238.—Liliwm netlgherense.
er)
of the recurved petals being washed
and blotched with rich purple-brown
(Elwes, Inl. t.5; Bot. Mag. t. 7043).
It is safer to grow this species in a
greenhouse.
L. nitidum,—A Californian Lily
with oblong bulbs, and green and
purplish stems about 14 ft. high,
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
bearing lance-shaped leaves in whorls
of twenty, more or less, and bright
QJ
PP
on if
Fic. 239.—Liliwm nepalense.
|
EZANW
(3-)
yellow flowers copiously spotted with
reddish-brown on the upper half of
the segments.
L. occidentale. — A Californian
Lilium with a short rhizomatous
root-stock and stems 2 to 6 ft. high,
having leaves in whorls of five to
twelve or more. Flowers 1} to 2} ins.
long, crimson towards the tips, orange-
red with copious black spots lower
down the segments.
L, ochraceum,—This Lily is closely
allied to Z. monadelphum (Szovitsi-
anum), and comes from the mountains
of Western China, at an altitude of
9000 to 10,000 ft. The smooth shin-
ing stems are 3 to 4 ft. high, furnished
with scattered lance - shaped leaves
about 2 ins. long, and bearing droop-
ing, yellow, unspotted flowers with
reflexed segments,
L. oxypetalum.—A_ pretty little
species from the Himalayas (altitude
d41
LILIUM
8000 to 12,500 ft.), having narrow elon-
gated bulbs, slender stems 1 to 15 ft.
high, linear lance-shaped leaves, and
one to three flowers about 2 ins. across
in June, soft mauve-purple in colour,
spotted at the base of the segments
with deep purple. (Bot, Mag. t.4731 ;
Elwes, Lil, t. 5.)
L. papilliferum (1. /iondi)—An-
other Yunnan Lilium (altitude 5000
to 6000 ft.), related to LZ. Maximowicz.
It has small roundish bulbs, and
slender stems about 1 ft. high, bear-
ing linear leaves. The drooping bell-
shaped flowers, with reflexed segments,
are bright red.
L. pardalinum.—This is the Cali-
fornian “Leopard Lily.” It has hori-
zontal creeping root-stocks, on which
the bulbs are developed. The stems
are 3 to 8 ft. high, and the drooping
flowers are bright orange-red heavily
Fic, 240.—Ltiltwm pardalinum, bulb and
rhizome. (4.)
spotted with dark purple at the
base. There are many varieties, such
as Bourgaei, with crimson - orange
heavily-blotched flowers; californi-
cum, deep orange-yellow spotted with
maroon and tipped with bright
scarlet ; Lutewm, soft yellow suffused
with orange and brown; Johnsoni, a
highly coloured variety ; JMJichauxt,
like the type, but later; mznor, an
early-flowering form witb rather small
orange black-spotted flowers ; pallidi-
florum, pale in colour, but large ;
Robinsoni, a strong grower, with bright
vermilion flowers fading to yellow,
and densely spotted with purple-
34
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
brown; and Ware/, with sweet-
scented, clear yellow, unspotted
flowers,
A fine Lily for massing and group-
ing in moist beds amongst shrubs,
etc. Mr Carl Purdy says :—“‘ There
seems to be a misconception gener-
ally as to the habitat of LZ. parda-
linum, the idea being that it is a bog
Lily. This is by no means the case.
Moisture it loves, and it sometimes
grows in very wet places, but in bogs
never, and the finest developed plants
are not in wet places.
“Go with me in the Coast Range
Mountains to where high in their
bosom some living stream has formed
a little vale deep with sandy loam
and wash from the surrounding
slopes, and there overtopping the tall
grasses and weeds, which are stimu-
lated to a luxurious growth, I will
show you this beautiful Lily: higher
than a man, and glorious in its orange
and red bloom, its bulb in a sharp
well-drained soil, its roots running
down to abundant moisture. In such
spots 1t grew by acres before civilisa-
tion with its plough and hog came.
[ have often seen masses containing
200 to 300 bulbs solidly matted to-
gether. If it is on the bank of the
stream in deep sandy loam, where the
roots can run down to the water, it is
still happier. It glories in air and
sunshine, and where the stream banks
are shaded never equals its stature in
more exposed places. In cultivation,
land that will grow good potatoes
will suit it.”
A noble Lily from the mountains of
S. California and Arizona (altitude
6000 to 10,000 ft.).
L. Parryi.—Stems 2 to 6 ft. high,
bearing sweet-scented citron-yellow
flowers, usually spotted with pale
chocolate or purple-brown (///, //ort.
1886, 595; Elwes, Lil. t. 12). It likes
sharp, cool, moist, peaty soil,
9
=
LILIUM
L, parvum,—A pretty Lily from
the subalpine regions of the Sierra
Nevadas of California (altitude 5000
ft.), where it grows “in a soil of
granitic sand and leaf-mould, on the
margins of lakes and on the banks of
cold streams.” It varies from 1 to 6
ft. high, has ovate lance - shaped
leaves, some in whorls, and broadly
funnel-shaped flowers with recurving
tips, rich orange in the centre, the red
tops being finely dotted.
L, philadelphicum. — A North
American species, 1 to 3 ft. high, with
cup-shaped flowers having the base
of the petals yellow spotted with
maroon and the tips bright scarlet
(Bot. Mag. t. 519; Red. Lil. t. 104;
Bot. Reg. t. 594; Hlwes, Lil. t. 17).
The variety andinum has narrower
and fewer leaves.
L, philippinense.—A native of the
Philippine Islands, 1} to 2 ft. high,
with large pure white, sweet-scented,
tubular flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 6250;
Elwes, Lil, t. 3). This species should
be grown in a greenhouse.
L. polyphyllum,—A delicate but
charming Himalayan species, 2 to 3
ft. high, with waxy-white drooping
flowers 5 to 6 ins. long, heavily spotted
and lined with purple (///. Hort.
1885, t. 565; Elwes, nl. t. 48).
Should be grown in a greenhouse.
The bulbs are long and narrow.
L. pomponium,—A fine “Turk’s
Cap” Lily from Siberia. Stems 2 to
3 ft. high, bearing drooping bright
red flowers tinted with orange, earlier
in the season than L, chalcedonicum
and L, pyrenaicum. There is much
variation in the colour and odour of
the blossoms. (Bot. Mag. t. 971;
Elwes, Inl. t. 46.)
L, primulinum (/, claptoniense),—
A species from Upper Burmah closely
related to LZ. neilgherense. It has
large roundish bulbs, and smooth
erect stems 3 to 4 ft. high, clothed
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
with glossy green, narrow, stalkless
leaves 4 to 5 ins. long. The funnel-
shaped flowers, 5 to 6 ins. long, are
pale yellow and unspotted, the seg-
ments beginning to reflex nearly half
way. (Bot. Mag. t 7227.)
L. purpureum.—This has hitherto
been regarded as a form of L. Wash-
ingtonianum. Mr Carl Purdy, how-
ever, is of opinion that it deserves
specific rank, Itis widely distributed
in California and Oregon, and grows
not only at high altitudes but also as
low as 600 ft. above sea-level, and at
various places in the open valleys and
half-wooded uplands. It has large
bulbs, and the stems are furnished
with broadly obovate leaves 3 to 4
ins, long, mostly in whorls of ten to
fourteen. The flowers are in terminal
umbels or racemes, and resemble
those of the Madonna Lily (ZL. candi-
dum) in outline, being broadly funnel-
shaped, white dotted with purple.
L. pyrenaicum. — A Pyrenean
species closely related to LZ. pom-
ponium, and often confused with it.
It grows from 2 to 4 ft. high, and has
drooping bright yellow flowers, the
interior of the fez-like base of the
perianth-tube being spotted with red
or deep purple. (Alwes, Lil. t. 47.)
L, Roezli.—The true species is a
native of S. Oregon, California, ete.,
and has rhizomatous root-stocks. It
grows 2 to 3 ft. high, has lance-
shaped linear leaves. partly scattered
and in whorls, and drooping deep
orange-red flowers 2 to 3 ins. across,
more or less densely blotched with
black towards the base. (Gartenjl.
t. 667.) Fig. 241.
L. roseum (Lf, Thomsonianum ;
Fritilaria macrophylla), — A rare
Himalayan species, 13 to 2 ft. high,
with tufts of narrow lance-shaped
leaves, the lower ones being 12 to 18
ins. long. Flowers bell-shaped, rosy-
lilac or flesh colour, often as many as
343
LILIUM
forty on a stem, and appearing in
April and May. (Sot, Mag. t. 4725;
Bot, Reg. 1845.) Should be grown
in warm sheltered spots outside, or
in the greenhouse.
Fic. 241.—Liliwm Roezli. (3.)
L. Rostherni.—-A native of W.
China, 1 to 14 ft. high, with linear
oblong leaves 3 to 4 ins, long, and
yellowish, heavily spotted flowers
about 2 ins. long, the segments being
reflexed and crisped.,
L, rubellum,— A distinct and
attractive Japanese Lily, 1 to 2 ft.
high. Flowers rosy-pink, tubular
bell-shaped, quite wunspotted, and
sweet scented. (Dot. Mag. t. 7634.)
A good Lily for forcing.
L. rubescens.—This has hitherto
been regarded as a form of LZ, Wash-
ingtonianum, but Mr Carl Purdy
considers it to be quite distinct. It
has smaller, more compact, and more
ovate bulbs than JL. Washing-
tonianum, The leaves are narrowly
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
lance-shaped, and nearly all in
distinct whorls on slender stems 6 to
Fic. 242.—Liliwm rubellwm.
8 ft. high. In good specimens from
twenty-five to thirty-five flowers are
borne in umbels or racemes, and are
deliciously fragrant.
L, speciosum,—QOne of the most
Fic. 243.—Liliwm speciosum album. (4.)
popular Japanese Liliums in cultiva-
tion (often known as L. lancifolium,
344
LILIUM
which is really synonymous with JL.
elegans). Stems 1 to 3 ft. high, bear-
ing large open white flowers suffused
with rose, the lower portion being
blotched with rose or carmine-purple,
and covered with irregular out-
growths. (Bot. Mag. t. 3785; Sot.
Reg. t. 2000 ; Hlwes, Lal, t. 12.)
There are many fine varieties, the
best known being—a/bum, pure white,
with red outside; gloriosoides has
much narrower leaves, much-reflexed
crisped perianth segments, and
scarlet rather than crimson spots and
papille ; Avetzer? has pure white
flowers with a water-green centre ;
macranthum, deep rose; Jelpomene,
crimson-purple heavily spotted and
edged with white ; crwentum, a dwarf
form of JMelpomene, with highly
coloured flowers ; punctatum, white,
spotted and shaded pink; rosewm,
white washed with rose ; and several
others not so well known.
L, sulphureum (1. Wallichianum
superbum).—A fine Burmese Lily, 4 to
7 ft. high, with narrow leaves 6 to 9
ins. long, and large white funnel-
shaped flowers 6 to 7 ins. long, tinted
with yellow inside and rose outside,
(Bot. Mag. t. 7275).
This species grows well in a green-
house. It produces offsets at the
base, and bulbils in the axils of the
upper leaves freely.
L, superbum,—This is the “Swamp
Lily” of N. America, It has creep-
ing root-stocks, from which the older
bulbs disappear after the develop-
ment of the new ones, The stems
are from 4 to 10 ft, high, with whorls
of lance-shaped pointed leaves.
From twenty to forty drooping
orange-red flowers heavily spotted
with purple are borne, the petals
being reflexed as in the Turk’s Cap
Lilies, (Bot. Mag. t. 396; Elwes,
Lil. t. 26.)
The variety
carolinianum (also
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
known as LZ. autumnale and L,
Michauxianum) is a dwarf form.
Fic. 244.—Ltliwm superbum. (4.)
L. sutchuenense. — A Chinese
species, 2 to 3 ft. high, having flexible
speckled stems and bright scarlet or
orange-red flowers dotted inside with
brown. JL. papilliferum (or Liondt)
and ZL. chinense, both with scarlet
flowers, are closely related. (Dot.
Mag. t. 7715; Flora and Sylva,
December 1905.)
This species is still very rare, but
may be easily raised from seeds. It
is perhaps safer to grow it in a green-
house, but would probably prove more
vigorous in the open air in the mildest
parts.
L, taliense.—This is intermediate
between ZL. Martagon and L, poly-
phyllum, and comes from the moun-
tains of Yunnan, W. China, The
slender roughish stems are about 6 ft.
high, and are furnished with lance-
shaped leaves about 2 ins. long, the
upper ones being more or less in
circles. The flowers are whitish,
about 2 ins. long, and are sometimes
spotted.
L, tenuifolium.—A Siberian Lily,
345
LILIUM
1 to 14 ft. high, with narrow grass-
like leaves about 2 ins. long, and
brilliant scarlet drooping flowers
(Elwes, Lil. t. 42). A good Lily for
early forcing.
L. testaceum (J. exce/sum).—A fine
Lily, supposed to be a hybrid between
L. chalcedonicum and L.candidum, It
Wh”
Fic. 245.—Liliwum testaceum. (4.)
has stems 5 to 6 ft. high, and beauti-
ful nankeen-yellow or apricot-coloured
(lowers, the reflexed segments of which
are dotted with orange-red. (Sot.
Reg. 1843. t.11; Elwes, Lil. t. 44.) A
good Lily for forcing in early spring.
L, tigrinum.—This is the well-
known “ Tiger Lily,” a native of China
and Japan. It grows 2 to 4 ft. high,
and has deep orange - red flowers
heavily blotched with blackish-
purple. (Lot. Mag. t. 1237; Elves,
Tal, t. 38.)
The variety splendens often grows 7
ft. high, and bears numerous more
highly coloured and heavier blotched
flowers ; Fortunei is somewhat simi-
lar ; while flore pleno has from four to
six circles of petals coloured and
spotted.
346
THE BULB BOOK
LILIUM
Fic. 246.—Liliwm tigrinum. (3.)
Fic. 247.—Liliwm umbellatum, bulb and
offsets.
LILIUM
L, umbellatum,—A Siberianspecies
with large heads of erect orange-red
flowers. Many lilies of garden origin
are grouped under this, being prob-
ably hybrids between L. croceum, L.
elegans, and LL, davuricum. The
colours vary from orange to orange-
red, apricot and almost scarlet, special
names being given to some forms,
such as aurantiacum, grandiflorum,
punctatum, Cloth of Gold, ete.
L. Wallacei.—A Japanese Lily in-
termediate between ZL. elegans and L,
Maximowiex, It has roundish bulbs,
13 to 2 ins. in diameter; densely
leafy green stems about 13 ft. high,
mottled with brown ; and clear pale
scarlet flowers about 3 ins. long,
spotted with brown inside towards
the base. (Garden, 1897, f. 1103.)
L. Washingtonianum, — A fine
Californian Lily, 3 to 6 feet high, with
long and narrow bulbs composed of
loose scales, often measuring 7 to 15
ins. in circumference, but in a native
state sometimes as much as 28 ins,
The drooping funnel-shaped flowers
are 3 to 4 ins. long, pure white, tinged
with purple or lilac, and sweetly
scented. (/7. d. Serr. tt. 1975-6;
Gartenfl. t. 170; Elwes, Lil. t. 10.)
Mr Carl Purdy mentions a variety
called minor, from the base of Shasta
Mountain. It has ovate compact
bulbs, slender stems, rather narrow
lance-shaped wavy leaves five to eight
in a whorl.
L. Yoshidai.—This is said to be a
new species, with sweet-scented
flowers like those of Z. Browni (Gard.
1905, Ixviii. 238, f.).
L. yunnanense,—A native of the
mountains of Yunnan, W. China, at
an elevation of 6000 ft. It has
roundish bulbs about 13 ins, in
diameter, smooth stems 1 to 2 ft.
high, and narrow leaves 1} to 2 ins.
long. The drooping pink and un-
spotted flowers are widely expanding,
THE BULB BOOK
LIMNOCHARIS
and from 13 to 2 ins. long. It is a
very distinct and pretty little species,
Lintum DiskAses. — Sometimes a
fungus known as Sotrytis cinerea
attacks the plants, forming orange-
brown specks on the stems and leaves,
etc., ultimately becoming covered with
a delicate grey mould. Other fungoid
diseases also attack the plants. In-
fected portions should be burned, the
plants then being sprayed with a
solution of liver of sulphur (2 oz. to 3
gals. of water), or heavily dusted over
with flowers of sulphur after syring-
ing or a heavy rain. When grown in
greenhouses, the worst pest probably
is the green-fly, which attacks and
cripples the tips of the flowering
shoots. By syringing the plants regu-
larly with nicotine and quassia solu-
tions, or by vaporising the houses
from time to time, these pests can be
kept in check.
LIMNOCHARIS (/imne, a marsh ;
chairo, to delight in ; in reference to
its habitat). Nat. Ord. Alismaceze.—-
The best-known members of the
genus are described below :—
L. Humbolati (//ydrocleis Commer-
sont).—A charming aquatic from
Buenos Ayres, having whitish cylin-
drical root-stocks, broadly oval or
roundish leaves which float on the
surface of the water, and bright
yellow flowers from July to Septem-
ber. Each bloom is over 2 ins,
across, and consists of three roundish
inner segments, three smaller green
outer ones, and numerous orange-
yellow stamens in the centre, (Sot.
Req. t. 1640.)
To keep this plant alive during the
winter months outside, the rhizomes
should be planted at least a foot
below the water-level. They may,
however, be grown in pots or tubs,
and sunk in the water in June, and
taken up again in October or Novem-
347
LITTONIA
ber and placed in a greenhouse. The
root-stocks may be divided in spring,
when it is desired to increase the
number of plants.
L. Plumieri, from Brazil, has oblong
bluntish leaves with three - sided
stalks, and from June to October
the yellow flowers are borne in
umbels on stems about 18 ins. high
(Bot. Mag. t. 2525).
This species is more tender than
L. Humboldti, and should therefore
be grown in a greenhouse to secure
the best results.
LITTONIA (after Dr S. Litton,a pro-
fessor of Botany in Dublin), Nat. Ord.
Liliacee.—A genus containing only
two species, the best known being—
L. modesta.— A South African
Fic. 248.—Littonia modesta. (3.)
tuberous-rooted plant with climbing
stems 2 to 4 ft. long, furnished with
lanceolate bright green stalkless
leaves, ending in a tendril like
Gloriosa, Flowers tulip-shaped, of
THE BULB BOOK
LYCORIS
a clear orange-yellow. (Bot. Mag. t.
4723.) The variety Keithi is more
vigorous and free-flowering than the
type (Gartenfl. t. 1237).
This plant may be grown in the same
way as Gloriosa, in a greenhouse in a
compost of rich and well-drained
sandy soil,
LLOYDIA (after Mr Lloyd, a
botanist). Nat. Ord. Liliacew.—A
genus with one species closely related
to Calochortus.
L. alpina (L. serotina).—A pretty
little native bulbous plant from the
Snowdon range, and also found on
the Alps. It has scaly bulbs and
half-roundish leaves 6 to 10 ins. long,
and about June produces its white
or yellowish flowers, the segments of
which are veined outside with green
or purple. It flourishes in nooks in
the rockery in cool and partially
shaded spots in ordinary garden soil,
and may be increased by offsets in
autumn.
LOwWIA. Nat. Ord. Scitamineze—
The only species known is —
L. maxillarioides.--A ginger-like
plant from the Malay Peninsula,
having tufts of two-ranked lance-
shaped leaves about 9 ins. long, and
loose short panicles of flowers in
which the three large purple sepals
and the odd green lip-like petal are
suggestive of an orchid (Mazillaria),
This plant may be grown in the
same way as the Kempferias—which
see,
LYCORIS (the name of a woman in
Roman history), Nat. Ord. Amaryl-
lidez.—A genus with about half a
dozen species of tunicated bulbous
plants having linear or strap-shaped
leaves, and numerous funnel-shaped
flowers with wavy segments, borne on
top of a stout scape.
348
Oe
LYCORIS
The species mentioned below are
not quite hardy, except in the very
mildest parts of the Kingdom, J.
squamigera is the hardiest, and will
flourish in the open air south of the
Thames in warm, sheitered borders in
well-drained gritty soil. The other
species may be tried in similar
situations, but they are on the whole
safer grown in pots in the greenhouse.
They like a sandy loam and a fair
supply of moisture during the growth
of the leaves; these, in most cases,
wither before the appearance of the
flower-stalks, The plants may be
divided after flowering if necessary,
the offsets being useful for increasing
the stock. When established in the
open air, it is better to leave the
plants alone for a few years, so as
to allow them to grow into bold and
effective masses.
L. aurea (Amaryllis and Nerine
aurea). —A pretty Chinese species
with bright yellow scentless flowers
about 3 ins. across, borne on scapes
1 to 2 ft. high in August (Bot. Mag.
t. 409; Bot. Reg. t. 611; Red. Lil.
t. 61).
L. incarnata.—A native of Central
China, about 2 ft. high, the scape
bearing six to twelve large open, pale
flesh-coloured or rosy flowers, sweetly
scented. The segments are only
slightly wavy and not so reflexed
as in LZ, sguamigera.
L. radiata (Amaryllis radiata ;
Nerine japonica).—A native of China
and Japan, whence it was introduced
to English gardens in 1750. The
bright red scentless flowers appear in
summer or autumn on stems 1 to 13
ft. high, and the leaves are developed
during the winter months. (And. Bot.
ftep. t. 25 ; Bot. Reg. t. 596.)
There is a form called variegata or
Terraciant, with large crimson flowers
the segments of which become
margined with white when fading.
THE BULB BOOK
LYSICHITUM
The variety pumila is much dwarfer
than the type.
L. sanguinea,—A Japanese species
with bright red flowers, having seg-
ments that are neither crisped nor
reflexed.
L. Sprengeri.—A distinct species,
presumably from Japan, having short
ovate spathe valves, and long-stalked
rose-pink or purple-rose flowers with-
out any distinct tube above the ovary
(Gard. Chron. 1902, xxxii. 469).
L. squamigera.—-A striking Japan-
ese species with large sweet-scented
rosy-lilac flowers on scapes 2 to 3 ft.
high in August, after the narrow
strap-shaped leaves have withered
and vanished, This species may be
grown outside in the same way as the
Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Bellu-
donna).
L, straminea.—This Chinese plant
is closely related to L. awrea, but has
pale yellow or straw-coloured flowers,
with a pink keel and a few scattered
red dots.
LYSICHITUM (/ys?s, loosing ; chiton,
a coat). Nat. Ord. Aroideze.—This
genus contains only one _ species,
viz.—
L. camtschatense.—A remarkable
and noble-looking Aroid, widely-
distributed over North-eastern Asia
and North-western America. It is
a stemless plant with a thick root-
stock, and tufts of large oblong lance-
shaped acute leaves 12 to 30 ins. long,
and from 5 to 10 ins. wide, the surface
being more or less conspicuously
spotted or mottled. The stout
cylindrical flower-stalk is from 6 to
12 ins. high, and bears a pointed boat-
shaped bright yellow spathe 4 to 6
ins. long and 3 to 5 ins. across,
sheltering a dark green spadix 3 to 6
ins. long, bearing numerous flowers
which emit a very disagreeable odour
when mature about April or May.
349
MAIANTHEMUM
This rare plant is only likely to
assume its proper proportions out of
doors in the most genial parts of the
Kingdom. For a few years it was
grown in the rock-garden at Kew in
boggy soil, but failed to thrive.
When transferred to the Himalayan
House, however, and planted in
Fic. 249.—Lysichitwm camtscnatense. (4.)
swampy soil, it soon began to
flourish. The best way to increase
the plant is by division of the root-
stocks; but it may be also raised
from seeds.
MAIANTHEMUM (jios, May ;
anthemon, a flower). Nat. Ord. Lili-
acee.—A genus with one species,
viz.—
M. Convallaria (/, lifolium ; Con-
vallaria lifolia ; Smilacina bifolva ;
S. canadensis). —A charming little
plant, native of the North temperate
regions, including Britain. It has
slender creeping root - stocks and
flexuous stems furnished with two
THE BULB BOOK
MARANTA
broadly ovate heart-shaped leaves, 2
to 3 ins. long, deeply lobed at the
base. The small white sweet-scented
flowers appear in May and June on
dense erect racemes. They are re-
markable for having only four seg-
ments and four stamens. (Sot, Mag.
t. 510.)
This is a good plant for the rock-
garden. It fiourishes in ordinary
garden soil in semi-shaded_ places,
and may be increased by division in
early autumn.
MARANTA (after 2. Maranti, an
Italian botanist) Nat. Ord. Scita-
minee,—A genus containing about
a dozen species of ornamental herba-
ceous plants, having more or less
tuberous or creeping root-stocks and
broad ornamental Jeaves on zigzag
stems. The flowers are small and of
no great beauty.
Being mostly natives of Tropical
America, the Marantas like plenty of
heat and moisture, and should there-
fore be grown in a stove in which the
night temperature in winter does not
sink below 65° or 60° F. During the
summer months the plants should be
placed in shaded spots. They flourish
in rich sandy soil (loam and peat), and
may be grown either in pots or
planted in borders or stove rockeries.
Plenty of water is required during
growth, and the plants should be
frequently syringed to keep the
foliage clean and bright. The best
time to divide the plants is in
spring.
M. argentea has large oblong,
pointed, silvery grey leaves marked
with narrow curved lines of deep
green, Brazil.
M. arundinacea.—This is the plant
that supplies the Indian Arrowroot.
It grows 5 to 6 ft. high, and has large
oval, lance-shaped leaves, slightly
hairy beneath. (Lot, Mag. t. 2307.)
350
MARICA
The variegated form (varvegata) is
probably better known in gardens as
Phrynium variegatum. It is an
ornamental plant, with leaves
elegantly variegated with oblique
bands of green and yellow.
M. bicolor.—A pretty species, with
roundish leaves of a pale blue-green
with irregular blotches of deep and
shining green about half-way between
the midrib and edges, the under-
surface being rose-purple. (Lot. Reg.
t. 786; Lodd. Bot. Cat. t. 921.)
There are several varieties of this,
the best being Devosiana, Kerchov-
eana, Makoyana, and Mossangeana,
M. musaica,— A very distinct
species, with obliquely heart-shaped
leaves of a deep and shining green,
decorated with numerous whitish
transverse lines, which give a mosaic
appearance.
M. Sagoreana has very pale green
oblong leaves marked on each side of
the midrib with deep green, oblong,
oblique stripes.
M. speciosa, — Leaves obliquely
elliptic, oblong, pointed, bright green
decorated with greenish-white bands.
M, striata.—A dwarf kind about
6 ins. high, having pale green leaves
conspicuously striped and marked
with white and pale yellow.
Several other plants called Marantas
are really Calatheas. M. major now
belongs to the genus ISCHNOSIPHON.
It has pretty, erect, green leaves.
MARICA (maraino, to flag or wilt ;
referring to the fleeting nature of the
flowers). Nat. Ord. Irideze.—A genus
with about a dozen species of herba-
ceous plants having short thickish
root-stocks, sword - shaped leathery
leaves arising fan-like in two rows,
and fleeting flowers of white, blue, or
yellow, somewhat resembling those of
some species of Iris in appearance.
The Maricas (which now include
THE BULB BOOK
MARICA
the plants formerly known as
CyPELLA) are best grown in a green-
house, and flourish in a compost of
sandy loam, peat, and leaf-mould in
equal proportions. They are easily
increased by division of the root-
stocks, but seeds may also be sown
in gentle heat in spring.
M. brachypus.—A_ beautiful West
Indian species having yellow flowers
transversely striped with reddish-
brown at the base. (Dot. Mag. t.
6380.)
M. coerulea. — A Brazilian plant
about 3 ft. high, having blue or lilac
flowers striped with brown, yellow,
and white at the base, and produced
in Mayand June. (Sot. Mag. t. 5612.)
M. gracilis, — This species from
Central America grows about 2 ft.
high, and has white flowers striped
with yellow and brown at the base,
the inner segments being reflexed
and blue in colour. (Dot. Mag. t.
3713.)
M, Helene.—A Brazilian species
near J/, ceerwea, with blue and white
flowers nearly 5 ins. across.
M. humilis, — A Brazilian plant,
1 to 2 ft. high, with whitish flowers
having four reddish-brown stripes on
the claw. (Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 1801.)
M. longifolia.—A native of Rio de
Janeiro, with yellow flowers striped
with brown.
M. lutea—A native of Brazil,
resembling J/, humilis, but with
bright yellow flowers having five
deep red stripes on the claw. (Bot.
Mag. t. 3809.)
M. Northiana (Jorwa Northiana).
—A fine Brazilian plant over a yard
high, with. large pure white flowers
variegated with yellow and brown on
the claw. (Bot. Mag. t. 654; Flora
and Sylva, February 1905.)
M. occidentalis. — A Peruvian
species, having fan-shaped tufts of
leaves, and white flowers, the inner
351
MASSONIA
segments of which are mottled with
brown and tipped with violet.
Fic. 250.—Marica Northiana.
M. paludosa (Cipura paludosa).—A
native of Tropical America, having
roundish corms, narrow plaited leaves
1 to 14 ft. long, and lilac flowers, the
inner segments of which have one or
two yellow blotches near the base.
(Bot. Mag. t. 646.)
MASSONIA (after F. Masson (1741-
1805), a botanical traveller in S.
Africa). Nat. Ord. Liliacee.—This
genus contains about twenty-five
species of small bulbous plants all
natives of 8. Africa. The numerous
white or greenish and almost stalk-
less flowers are borne in umbel-like
clusters between the two almost
opposite leaves, the flower-stem being
either very short or altogether absent.
Like most of the Cape bulbous
plants the Massonias flourish in a
gritty compost of loam with a little
THE BULB BOOK
MEDEOLA
peat and leaf-soil, and may be grown
in a greenhouse, or frame, or in the
open border in sheltered situations
during the summer. They are of no
great beauty or value as garden plants,
and are confined chiefly to botanical
collections. Some of the best-known
kinds are :—
M. amygdalina, with oval leaves
and almond-scented flowers.
M. angustifolia, with lance-shaped
pointed leaves. (ot. Mag. t. 736.)
M. candida, with round smooth
fleshy leaves. (bot. Reg. t. 694.)
M. jasminifiora, — Leaves two,
spreading on the ground, and umbels
of white green-tipped flowers. (Bot.
Mag. t. 7465.)
M. muricata, with roundish heart-
shaped, fleshy leaves. (Bot. Mag. t.
559.)
M. pustulata, having smooth, oval,
rounded, fleshy leaves, sometimes three
instead of the usual two, heavily
covered with whitish pustules. (Lot.
Mag. t. 642.)
M. sanguinea, with roundish, heart-
shaped, pointed leaves, and flowers
having reddish filaments to the
stamens. (Bot. Mag. t. 848.)
MEDEOLA (named after’ the
sorceress Medea). Nat. Ord. Liliacee.
—The only species in this genus is-—
M. virginica.— A native of N.
America with thickish white rhizomes
having a cucumber-like smell, and
whorls of stalkless obovate lance-
shaped leaves on the erect stems,
which grow about 9 ins. high. The
small yellowish flowers appear in
June in sessile umbels. (Bot. Mag.
t. 1316.)
This plant is quite hardy, and
fiourishes in ordinary light garden
soil. Itis easily increased by division
of the root-stocks.
The plant known either as Wedeola
asparagovdes or Myrsiphyllum aspara-
302
MEGARHIZA
goides is described in this work as
Asparagus medeoloides.
MEGARHIZA (megas, large ; rhiza,
a root ; referring to the large tuberous
root-stock). Nat. Ord. Cucurbi-
taceee.
M, californica.—This is a curious
Californian plant with large tuberous
roots often weighing 20 to 40 lbs.,
and annual trailing stems 18 to 20 ft.
long, bearing shining silvery, palmately
lobed leaves. The staminate (male)
and pistillate (female) flowers are
borne separately, the latter being
solitary at the base of the male
clusters, and in due course giving
rise to a roundish or oblong spiny
fruit resembling a sweet chestnut.
This curiosity will grow in warm
sunny spots in good garden soil, and
may be increased from seed sown in
gentle heat in spring.
MELANTHIUM (melas, black;
anthos, a flower; referring to the
dark blossoms). Nat. Ord. Liliacee.
—A small genus of North American
herbs with very short thickened or
bulbous root-stocks, from which arise
smooth and membranous, narrow or
lance-shaped leaves, and panicles of
yellowish or greenish-white poly-
gamous flowers.
M., virginicum (Helonias virginica),
—The “Bunch Flower” of Virginia.
It grows from 3 to 5 ft. high, having
narrow grass-like leaves larger at the
base, and creamy-yellow flowers in
July, fading to dark brown. (Jot,
Mag. t. 985.)
This plant grows well in ordinary
garden soil or in a mixture of loam
and peat, in somewhat shaded posi-
tions, and may be increased in
autumn or spring by division.
MELASPHASRULA (melas, black ;
spherula, a little ball or sphere ; in
THE BULB BOOK
MERENDERA
allusion to the form and colour of the
small blackish bulbs), Nat. Ord.
Tridez.—The only species is—
M. graminea (J/. parviflora;
Gladiolus gramineus).—A pretty little
bulbous plant from S. Africa, having
bright green grass-like leaves 6 to 12
ins. long, and whitish flowers in April
striped with purple, and borne in a
large branching and flexuose panicle.
(Bot. Mag. t. 615.)
This species is only hardy in the
very mildest parts of the Kingdom,
and is generally grown in green-
houses or frames ; or in well-sheltered
borders facing south, in rich and
gritty soil, much in the same way as
recommended for the Ixias. Increased
by offsets or seeds,
MERENDERA (the Spanish name
for Colchicum). Nat. Ord. Liliaceze.—
A small genus of bulbous plants
closely related to Bulbocodium and
Colchicum, having tunicated bulbs or
corms, narrow leaves, and funnel-
shaped flowers.
The species mentioned flourish in
a light rich sandy soil in rather
moist situations, and are rather hand-
some grown in large batches. They
may be increased by offsets and
seeds,
M. Bulbocodium (Aulbocodium au-
tumnale)—A pretty Pyrenean plant
resembling Bulbocodium vernum in
appearance, but produces its rosy-
lilac flowers in autumn on stems 3 to
4ins. high. The narrow sickle-shaped
leaves appear after the flowers have
faded, and remain fresh and green
throughout the winter.
M. caucasica (Dulbocodium trigy-
num).—A native of the Caucasus, 3 to
4 ins, high, with delicate rosy flowers
in April and May (Bot. Mag. t.
3690).
M. persica (Bulbocodium Aitchi-
sont)—From Persia and India ; has
353 Z
MILLA
pale lilac sweet-scented flowers keeled
with red, in October and November
(Bot. Mag. t. 6012).
M. sobolifera (Colchicum pro-
currens) is a curious little plant from
Smyrna, with irregular bulbs mottled
with purple and yellow, and bearing
white flowers tinted with pale pink
in autumn.
MILLA (after J. Mi/la,a gardener
at the Court of Madrid). Nat. Ord.
Liliacee.—The only species at present
in the genus is—
M, bifiora,—A pretty little Mexican
plant with small bulbs, narrow blue-
green grassy leaves, and pure white
salver-shaped flowers borne on stems
about 6 ins. high about August (Bot.
Reg. t. 1555).
This plant may be considered as
only half-hardy in most parts of the
Kingdom, but hardy in favoured
spots. It likes rich sandy loam, and
should be grown in quantity either
in the open air or greenhouse for
effect. It is chiefiy increased by
offsets detached when the bulbs are
dormant, or just before starting into
growth Many other plants formerly
called Milla are now known under
the name of Brop1zs—which see.
MIRABILIS (miralilis, wonderful ;
as everything was so considered when
first introduced from America). Nat.
Ord. Nyctaginee. — This genus con-
tains about ten species of tuberous-
rooted herbs, having two to three-
forked branches bearing opposite
leaves and long tubular flowers with
salver-shaped lobes.
The best-known species are men-
tioned below. If grown in the open
air, the simplest way to treat them is
as if they were Dahlias. They flour-
ish in any good well-drained garden
soil, and make fine bushy plants if
given plenty of space. They may be
THE BULB BOOK
MONOCHILUS
raised in the first place from a packet
of seeds sown in gentle heat about
February or March, the young plants
being pricked out and grown on till
about the end of May under glass. If
given plenty of air and light and not
too much heat, they will be well
hardened off for the open air by that
time. In autumn the tuberous roots
may be lifted, cleaned, and stored
away in a frost-proof cellar until the
following year.
M. Jalapa,—This is the “ Marvel of
Peru,” a beautiful Peruvian bushy
plant 2 to 4 ft. high, having tuberous
roots; large entire, oval, pointed
leaves, rounded at the base; and
terminal clusters of sweet - scented
funnel-shaped flowers about 2 ins.
long, and variously coloured with
red, white, or yellow, or striped and
blotched with two or more colours
(Lot. Mag. t. 371).
There are numerous seedling forms,
some being only 12 to 18 ins. high.
M. longifiora.—A clammy Mexican
species, 2 to 3 ft. high, with black
turnip - shaped roots, and broadly
heart-shaped tapering leaves. The
fragrant long-tubed fiowers appear in
July and August, varying in colour
from white and pink to violet.
M. multifiora—A downy species
1 to 2 ft. high, found wild between
Mexico and California. The bright
purple flowers, about 2 ins. long,
appear in late summer, borne in
terminal clusters having a cup-like
involucre,
Hybrid forms in which the three
species mentioned above have played
a part are now in cultivation, and
will probably produce finer garden
forms as time goes on.
MONOCHILUS (monos, one ; cheilos,
a lip; in reference to the form of the
flowers). Nat. Ord. Verbenacez.—
The only species in the genus is—
354
MORAA
M. gloxinizfolius.—A pretty her-
baceous plant from Brazil, having
tuberous root-stocks, slightly stalked
rather broad coarsely toothed leaves,
and white flowers in clusters at the
ends of the shoots, and singly in the
axils of the leaves or bracts lower
down the stems. The corolla has a
cylindrical tube, oblique on the upper
side, split down the centre, and with
a very oblique limb,
This little-known plant requires
the heat and moisture of a stove
house, and may be grown in sandy
loam, leaf-mould, and peat in equal
proportions. It may be propagated
by cuttings of the half-ripened non-
flowering shoots inserted in very
sandy soil under a hand-light or bell-
glass, The tubers may also be divided
just as growth is commencing.
MORZ@A (after PR. Moore, a British
botanist). Nat. Ord. Irideze.—This
genus (which now includes DIETEs,
Heixyra, and VIEUSSEUXIA) con-
tains about sixty species of plants
with roundish corms, narrow sword-
like leaves, and somewhat fleeting
lilac, yellow, or red flowers, having
three outer segments larger than the
three inner ones.
Most of the Moreeas are natives of
S. Africa, and may be grown in the
British Islands under almost identical
conditions with the Ixtas—which see—
and other South African bulbs. They
like rich gritty soil, warm, sunny,
and sheltered spots, and protection
from cold, miserable rains in winter,
In bleak localities it is safer to grow
the plants in pots or pans in cold
frames or greenhouses. Propagation
is effected by offsets, division, or more
slowly by seeds. Amongst the many
species the following may be noted :—
M. angusta.—A plant about 9 ins.
high with lilac-coloured flowers (Dot.
Mag. t. 1276).
THE BULB BOOK
MORAA
M. bicolor.—This was formerly
known as Iris and Dietes. It has
citron-yellow blossoms, (Sot. Reg.
t. 1404.)
M. bituminosa.—Grows about 1 ft.
high, and has yellow flowers (Bot.
Mag. t. 1045).
M. catenulata, from Mauritius, has
white and blue flowers (Bot. Reg.
t. 1074.) Considered to be a form of
M., iridoides.
M. ciliata.—A very dwarf species
with ciliated leaves and yellow
flowers (Lot. Mag. t. 1061).
M. crispa.—F lowers lilac-blue with
yellow blotches (Bot. Mag. tt. 759,
1284).
M. edulis.—This grows 3 to 4 ft.
high, and has sweet-scented lilac
flowers blotched with yellow at the
base (Lot. Mag. t. 613).
M. glaucopis.—F lowers white with
a blue-black blotch at the base of
the outer segments (Sot. Jag. t.
168 ; Red. Lrl. t. 42).
M, iridoides.— One of the best-
known species, having a short creeping
root-stock, clusters of narrow sword-
like leaves, and white flowers having
a yellow blotch at the base, and a
hairy or downy claw (Bot. Mag. tt.
693, 1407). The variety Johnsoni
differs from the type in having
longer leaves, 25 ft. long, erect, and
flowers 4 ins. across (Gard. Chron.
1907, xli. 296, f.).
M. papilionacea.—Flowers bright
lilac or red spotted with yellow (Bot.
Mag. t. 750).
M. pavonia.—-A variable species
having red, purple, or yellow flowers,
usually blotched with blue - black
(Bot. Mag. t. 1247; and vars, villosa
and lutea at tt. 571, 772). Fig. 251.
M. ramosa (J, bulbifera).—F lowers
bright golden yellow blotched with
brown (Bot, Mag. tt. 771, 5785).
M. Robinsoniana (/7ris Lobinsoni-
ana). — Popularly known as_ the
355
MORZA
“Wedding Flower.” It is a native
of Australia and Lord Howe's
Island, and resembles a large German
Iris or Green New Zealand Flax
Plant (Phormium tenax) in appear-
THE BULB BOOK
MUSCARI
M. Thomsoni.—A native of E.
Tropical Africa, about 1 ft. high,
with stiffish rush-like habit, the
round leaves being furrowed, and
about 7 ins. long. The flowers, about
Fic. 251.—More@a pavonia.
ance. It grows 4 to 6 ft. high, and
produces large pure white flattish
flowers. (Hot. Mag. t. 7212.)
This species is best grown in a cool
greenhouse planted out in a border
of gritty soil, and well exposed to
the sunshine.
M. spathacea (Dietes Huttoni).—
A rhizomatous species with bright
yellow sweet-scented flowers with
purple lines on the claws (Bot. Mag.
tt. 1103, 6174; Garden, 1889, t. 715).
M. sulphurea.—This species has
small round corms, slender erect
stems, with linear leaves 4 ins. long,
and a single terminal cluster of
sulphur-yellow flowers 1 in. across,
with orange and brown markings
(Bot, Mag. t. 765).
Fic. 252.—Morea Robinsoniana.
2 ins. across, appear in spiked clusters
and are pale lilac, yellow at the base,
and spotted with brown. (Bot. Mag.
t. 7976.) Tender.
M. tricuspis.—Flowers pale lilac
blotched with purple (Lot. Mag. t.
696).
M. tripetala.—F lowers usually lilac,
but sometimes lilac or reddish (Bot.
Mag. t. 702).
M. tristis.—Flowers dull purple,
blotched with yellow at the base of
the segments (Bot. Mag. t. 577).
M, unguiculata.—Flowers white,
the outer segments spotted with red
along the claw (Lot, Mag. t. 593).
MUSCARI (moschos, musk; in
reference to the scent of the flowers).
356
' MUSCARI
Nat. Ord. Liliacee.—A genus of
distinct and pretty bulbous plants,
popularly known as “Grape Hya-
cinths ” or “ Tassel Hyacinths,” easily
recognised by the dense racemes of
urn-shaped globular, or oblong flowers
borne on the upright scapes.
The Grape Hyacinths, which are
mostly natives of §. Europe, Asia
Minor, and N, Africa, flourish in any
good and deeply dug garden soil of
a gritty nature that is enriched with
well-decayed manure. The bulbs
being small should be planted in
September, October, or November,
about 3 ins. deep, and 3 or 4 ins.
apart, in hundreds and thousands, to
secure a bold display of blossom in
spring. Being dwarf in growth—
from 6 to 12 ins, high — they
look particularly charming beneath
deciduous early-flowering trees, and
are also useful for edgings to borders,
nooks in the rockery, or on the edges
of ponds or streams. The plants
increase naturally by offsets, which | .
may be detached at planting time.
Seeds are also produced freely in
most cases, and may be sown in
spring in a light gritty compost
in a cold frame. Flowering plants
are produced in three or four years
from seeds. Most of the Grape Hya-
cinths bloom between March and
May.
For early flowering in a cold green-
house, the Muscaris may be grown
in pots or pans, and are valuable for
this kind of decoration.
M. estivale.—A native of Asia
Minor, 6 to 9 ins, high, with oblong
tubular yellow flowers ribbed with
green, the upper ones being tinted
with purple (Lot, Mag. t. 6269).
M. botryoides.—A charming Italian
species, with dense roundish clusters
of deep: sky-blue blossoms having
six small white toothed segments.
There are forms known as album, a
THE BULB BOOK
MUSCARI
charming white variety, and pal-
lidum, pale blue.
M. comosum (//yacinthus comosus).
—A native of 8. Europe, with narrow
strap-shaped leaves 12 to 18 ins,
long, and loose clusters of blue
flowers (Lot, Mag. t. 133),
The variety monstrosum is much
better known than the species. It
is the well-known “Feather Hya-
cinth,” in which all the flowers are
sterile, and of a soft bluish-violet,
the individual blossoms having been
transformed into a mass of slender,
twisted, and wavy thread-like fila-
ments, the whole giving a “ fluffy” or
feathery appearance.
M. conicum.— a Ss =) °
= : S/S) S| P| S |renstn| & | z
Mouth.| Base. | QA | Top.| Base. | 9 )/H|F/ A/F |
A mm. mm. mm mm. m. mm.) mm.) mm mm. mm. mm. mm. mm.
Grand Monarque| 10 — 4| 4 16| 8] 4] 20/2 18 — |
N. Poeticus : 12 — 3) 35 5 | 29/10) 5] 29/8 30 = —
N. Stella . . 20 12 15 | 12 29; 13] 5] 20/25 40 10 20
N. Sir Watkin . 30 14 23 | 14 20);10; 5/15/38 35 20 10
N. Horsfieldi .| 30 20 | 40 | 20 | 14]}10| 8/14] 4 45 — | 85
\ | I
and Narcissi
should be, if possible,
Between these five types there are
innumerable gradations, so that any-
thing like a scientific classification
of Narcissi is practically out of the
question. Artificial groupings will,
however, be made by specialists from
time to time to meet temporary
emergencies ; but such groupings are
likely to succeed each other pretty
frequently.
CuLtivaTion. — Amongst bulbous
plants perhaps there are none so
popular as the Daffodils and Narcissi
for cultivation in the open air, or
for forcing into early blossom in
greenhouses during the first months
of the year. With few exceptions
they are all very hardy, and once
planted are able to look after them-
selves. Some species and varieties
of course are much scarcer, and
therefore more valuable than others.
Special attention is given to these
until the stock becomes large enough
to plant out in quantity. This
applies perhaps more especially to
the large trumpet-flowered varieties,
both single and double, but many
of the smaller-flowered kinds are also
delightful if grown in the same way.
The soil most suitable for Daffodils
a rich and rather heavy loam with
a fair amount of grit and well-
Fic. 259.—Narcissus, 1-year seedling.
decayed manure in it. It should
be deeply dug or trenched in the
first case, to ensure perfect drainage
and increased warmth during the
361
NARCISSUS
winter months when the bulbs are
vegetating.
So far as position is concerned the
the bulbs may be planted almost
anywhere, so long as the soil is
reasonably good—either in the open
fully exposed, or beneath deciduous
trees through which sufficient sun-
light finds its way before the leaves
appear. In the market gardens a
few kinds are planted in narrow beds
between the rows of fruit-trees, and
are left for several years to their
own devices. From an ornamental
point of view, however, Daffodils and
Narcissi may be utilised effectually
as spring flowers in the borders,
shrubberies, grassland, and also on the
banks of lakes, streams, ponds, ete. ;
or, as the poet Wordsworth has
expressed it, Daffodils may be
planted
‘ Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
TIME TO PLANT.—This is best done
at any time between the end of
August and the end of November.
The bulbs differ greatly in size
according to the variety, some being
less than an inch in diameter and
not more than an inch or inch and
a half in length, while others are two
or three times larger. For open-air
planting the safest rule to follow
is to cover each bulb with twice its
own depth of soil. The depth of
planting will therefore vary from
3 to 6 ins. or more, according to the
size of the bulbs.
When grown in pots or boxes for
the decoration of the greenhouse, or
for market purposes, the tops of the
bulbs are left about level with the
surface of the soil. When it is
intended to force certain varieties
into early blossom, they are left in
the open air for a few weeks covered
over with a few inches of soil, ashes,
or fibre, until root action has become
36
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
well established. They may then
be taken indoors as required. By
this means even a greenhouse without
any heat may be embellished in the
early spring.
LirTING THE Buss.—In the formal
garden this is generally necessary in
early summer, to make room for the
Zonal Pelargoniums, Marguerites,
Fuchsias, Calceolarias, Lobelias,
Echeverias, Cannas, Begonias, and
numerous other plants used for
“bedding out.” This work is gener-
ally done about the end of May or
early in June. By that time most
of the Daffodils and Narcissi with
the exception perhaps of the double-
flowered WV. poeticus, will be over,
although the foliage may still be
green. By lifting the plants and
placing out in semi-shady spots, the
leaves soon shrivel and die without
injury to the bulbs. The latter
should then be cleaned and stored
away in single layers on shelves, in
a cool and well-ventilated shed or
cellar, until the planting season
again arrives,
PropaGATIon.—In most cases this
is simplicity itself, and in many parts
of England and Ireland a great
trade has developed in raising quanti-
ties of Daffodils. Offsets are pro-
duced freely, one old bulb often pro-
ducing two others. These offsets
should always be planted by them-
selves, as most of them require the
growth of another season before they
blossom.
Hybrid Narcissi.
These of course can only be pro-
duced by fertilising the pistils in
one flower with the pollen from
another, and afterwards sowing the
seeds in rich gritty soil as soon
as perfectly ripe. As_ already
stated, many fine forms have been
raised in this way by specialists, and
9
~
NARCISSUS
some very fine prices are recorded for
varieties of exceptional merit.
The following is a selection of the
best kinds of Narcissi and Daffodils.
The principal kinds or sections are
arranged in alphabetical order, but
under them will be found some of
the best forms or sub-varieties, also
arranged alphabetically.
N. Backhousei (P. Pseudo-narcissus
x P. incomparabilis).—F lowers soli-
tary, with long lemon-yellow corona
and sulphur-yellow petals. The best
forms are Woolley Dod, deep yellow
and primrose; W. Wilks, orange-
yellow and primrose; and Joseph
Lakin, deep yellow and primrose.
N. Barri (V. incomparabilis x NV.
poeticus).— A distinct hybrid with
Fic. 260.—Narcissus Barri conspicwus. (3.)
sulphur-yellow petals and an obconic
corona, lemon-yellow at the base
passing into orange-yellow.
There are many varieties of the
“Barri” Daffodils, amongst the best
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
being :—Cvcely Hill, primrose, corona
flushed cinnabar - red; conspicuus,
orange-yellow cup deeply stained
with orange-scarlet ; Crown Prince,
white, large cup stained scarlet ;
Dorothy E. Weymss, petals white,
corona canary -yellow edged with
scarlet ; Dr Fell, white, with orange-
scarlet corona; /Vora Wilson, pure
white, with lemon cup edged orange-
scarlet ; Golden Mary, bright golden-
yellow; Maurice Vilmorin, pale
sulphur, large cup of deep orange
or orange-scarlet; Miriam Barton,
delicate primrose - yellow; drs C.
Bowley, white, with orange-red cup ;
Mrs Dyer, yellow, orange cup;
Orphee, primrose-coloured, cup scar-
let margined ; Sensation, pure white,
with bright yellow corona margined
with orange-scarlet; Szddington,
yellow, with open corona broadly
edged with orange-red.
N. Bernardi.—This is probably a
natural hybrid between JV. poeticus
and JV, muticus, and has been found
growing wild in the Pyrenees. It
has white petals and an orange or
lemon-yellow corona. H. HL. Buxton
is a form with white petals and a
bright orange-scarlet corona.
N. bicolor.—A charming variety of
the Ajax or Common ‘Trumpet
Daffodil or Lent Lily (V. Pseudo-
narcissus). The broad spreading
segments or petals are white, while
the large trumpet or corona is of a
bright lemon-yellow. There are
numerous forms, amongst the best
being :—Ada Brooke, white, trumpet
rich orange-yellow; Cygnet, broad
white elegant petals, and canary-
yellow trumpet; CA/oe (raised from
Emperor and triandrus albus), broad
creamy-white petals, and soft canary-
yellow cup ; Dean Herbert, full prim-
rose changing to sulphur, large rich
yellow trumpet ; Dorothy Kingsmill
(a cross between Grandee and cala-
363
NARCISSUS THE BULB BOOK
thinus), pure white, with long straight
lemon- yellow drooping trumpet;
Duke of Bedford, pure white, with Ni)
clear soft yellow trumpet, like Hors-
fieldi, but much larger and better ;
Fic. 261.—Narcissus bicolor Eilen Willmott. (3.)
Ellen Willmott, creamy-white, trum-
pet lemon-yellow ; Empress, flowers
similar in colour to Horsjieldi, but
of greater substance; Glory of
Noordwijk, similar to Empress, but
much larger and finer; Grandee
(maximus), pure white, trumpet large,
lemon colour; AHorsjieldi, white,
trumpet rich golden-yellow; James
Walker (albidus), sulphury white,
golden trumpet; John Davidson,
creamy-white, trumpet clear yellow ;
Judge Bird, a magnificent form with
pure white petals, and bright yellow
trumpet; Madame Plemp, broad
white segments, large golden-yellow
trumpet ; Michael Foster (sulphures-
cens), sulphur, large yellow trumpet ;
Mrs J. B. M. Camm, pure white,
364
NARCISSUS
Fic, 262.—Narcissus bicolor Horsfieldi. (3.)
Fic. 263.—Narcissus bicolor Victoria. (4.)
NARCISSUS
creamy-white trumpet ; Wis Morland
Crossfield, pure white, clear yellow
trumpet; Mrs Walter 7. Ware,
white golden trumpet ; Portia, soft
primrose, with yellow trumpet;
Prince Colibri, creamy-white, broad
thick-set yellow trumpet; Princeps
(Irish Giant), immense pale sulphur
trumpet, and sulphur or creamy-
white segments; Princess Ena,
creamy white, with sulphur perianth ;
Sentinel, pure white petals, trumpet
yellow ; 7. A. Dorrien-Smith, sulphur-
white, rich yellow trumpet ; Victorza,
pure white, trumpet clear yellow;
Weardale Perfection, large white seg-
ments, bold pale primrose trumpet.
Fia. 264.—Narcissus Bulbocodiuwm. (%.)
N. biflorus (V. poeticus x N.
Tazetta).—A natural hybrid between
the two species named, often having
two, rarely one or three, flowers on
a scape. Petals pure white ; corona
obconic, pale yellow, with crisped
margin. (Bot, Mag. t. 197.)
N. Broussoneti,.—A distinct Moroc-
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
can species, having narrow twisted
leaves 1} to 2 ft. long,and from six
to nine pure white sweetly scented
flowers on the scapes, each bloom
being about 1 in, across, and remark-
able for having a very small or
rudimentary corona.
This species is a shy bloomer,andalso
flowers at the end of the year, It is
best grown under glass in most places.
N. Bulbocodium (JV, turgidus ; Cor-
bularia Bulbocodium ; C. serotina).—
This is popularly known as_ the
“Hooped Petticoat” or “Medusa
Trumpet” Daffodil. It is a distinct
and pretty species from §S. Europe
Fic. 265.—Narcissus Bulbocodium mono-
phyllus. (4)
and N. Africa, having bulbs about #
in. through, from which arise three to
four roundish leaves, channelled on
the upper surface, and from 3 to 12
ins. long. The solitary bright yellow
flowers have narrow lance - shaped
segments, and a very large broadly
funnel-shaped corona in the centre.
(Bot. Mag. t. 88.)
365
NARCISSUS
There are several varieties, amongst
the best being cztrinus, pale lemon-
yellow; conspicuus, rich golden-
yellow ; Grae//si, sulphur or primrose
yellow (Bot. Mag. t. 6473, B.) ; hedre-
antha, remarkable for having a
solitary leaf and small yellow flower ;
monophyllus (or Clusz), usually with
a solitary leaf and snow-white flowers,
produced quite early in the year;
nivalis, from the snowy Spanish
mountains, orange-yellow ; and tenw-
folius, with long rush-like leaves and
golden-yellow flowers, having a corona
more or less six-lobed.
The Hooped Petticoat Narcissi are
charming in nooks in the rockery, or
for pot-culture.
N. Burbidgei (V. incomparabilis x
N. poeticus).—A beautiful Star
Daffodil, having pure white spreading
petals and a yellow bell - shaped
corona edged with deep cinnabar-red.
The following are variations :—
Agnes Barr, creamy-white; cup
yellow, stained orange. Baroness
Heath, yellow; cup suffused with
orange -scarlet. Beatrice Heseltine,
creamy - white; cup edged with
orange-scarlet. Constance, sulphury-
white ; cup beautifully edged orange-
scarlet. Crown Princess, pure white ;
cup yellow, margined orange. len
Barr, snow-white ; citron cup stained
orange-scarlet. /’alsta,f, pure white ;
lemon cup, margined orange. John
Bain, white; citron cup. Little
Dirk, pale yellow, with orange cup.
Mary, white; citron cup stained
orange. Mercy Foster, white ; canary-
yellow cup beautifully frilled. J/ode/,
pure white, cup stained orange,
beautifully frilled. Ossian, white ;
cup orange-scarlet. Princess Louise,
very large, pure white; cup much
expanded, orange-scarlet changing to
apricot. obin Hood, creamy-white ;
cup stained orange. St John's
Beauty, sulphur - yellow, with cup
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
edged orange-scarlet. Seguin, snowy-
white, with large, broad, flattened,
golden-yellow corona.
N. cyclamineus.—A distinct and
charming little Portuguese Daffodil,
6 to 8 ins. high, with lemon-yellow,
abruptly reflexed segments, and an
orange-yellow cylindrical corona with
a serrated edge (Bot. Mag. t. 6950).
Fic. 266.—Narcissus cyclamineus.
There is a larger-{lowered variety
called major, Hybrids have been
raised between WV, Horsfieldi and J.
cyclamineus.
N. Englehearti,—This name has
been more or less generally accepted
for the beautiful and distinct varieties
that have been raised by the Rev. G.
H. Engleheart. The flowers may be
said to show distinct traces of JV.
poeticus blood, and are remarkable
for a regular circular outline, filled
in by broad rounded petals of great
substance, with a large flattish
circular and disc-like corona in the
centre. The following are some of
the choicest varieties in this group ;
many of them are very costly, a
366
NARCISSUS
single bulb costing anything from
2s. 6d. to £8.
Amyas Leigh, pure white, nearly 3
ins. across ; corona rich orange edged
with deep crimson, Armeline, creamy-
sulphur, of great substance ; corona
bright yellow edged with orange.
Armorel, white, with overlapping
petals ; corona crinkled, edged with
apricot. Astrardente, pure white ;
corona salmon with a darker edge.
pure
Astrophel, white ; corona
Fic. 267.—Narcissus Englehearti, * Circlet.” (3.)
crinkled, pale canary-yellow. Circlet,
a magnificent flower with broad,
pure white, rounded petals ; corona
yellowish with orange -scarlet rim,
Concord, a beautiful and _ perfectly
circular white flower tinted with
buff, and having a saffron-buff or
dark coppery corona. Coreen,
creamy - white, 3 ins. across; rich
yellow corona suffused with deep
orange, Derwent, sulphur - yellow ;
corona suffused with orange. Dorothy
Pearson, creamy-white, with bright
orange corona, Harold Finn, pure
white, with flat scarlet corona, Jn-
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
cognita, white, with distinct orange-
apricot corona. Jnga, glistening
white, with deep orange - apricot
corona ; a kind of improved Jncognita.
Mariette, pure clear white, 2 ins,
across; deep orange corona, edged
briliant scarlet. Pole Star, white,
with fluted corona of a soft pale
canary- yellow. Salamander, soft
sulphur - yellow, with broad ovate
petals, and a shallow bright yellow
corona 1} ins. across, banded with
brilliant orange. Semeramis, white,
with large yellow corona edged bright
scarlet.
N. gracilis,—A native of Bordeaux,
bearing from three to five pure yellow
sweet-scented flowers on a scape, the
corona being shallow and obconic,
Probably a cross between JV. junci-
folius and N. Tazetta. (Bot. Reg. t.
816.)
N. Humei (NV. poculiformis x N.
Pseudo-narcissus ). — Raised by Dr
Leeds of Manchester. Flowers
sulphur - yellow, drooping, with a
lemon - yellow corona. ‘The _ best-
known forms are albidus, milk-white,
with a lemon-yellow corona ; concolor,
of a uniform yellow; and Hwme’s
Giant, yellow changing to primrose.
N. incomparabilis.—This is known
as the “Star” or “Chalice - cupped
Daffodil,” owing to the spreading
starry segments of the perianth, and
the cup-shaped corona, It is a native
of Central and 8.W. Europe, and is
now naturalised in parts of the
United Kingdom. The bulbs are
about 14 ins. thick, and the star-
shaped solitary flowers are 2 to 3 ins.
across, pale yellow in colour, with an
obconic lemon-yellow corona. (Zot.
Mag. t. 121.)
In the variety albus the petals are
white, and the corona lemon-yellow.
The variety known as Orange Phenix,
with double flowers, has arisen from
this. In the variety awrantius the
367
NARCISSUS
flowers are pale yellow, but the
corona is suffused with orange. The
double-flowered form known as Lutter
and Eggs comes from this.
As may be seen from the chief
kinds mentioned, 1. incomparabilis
has been largely used by the hybridist
in the production of new varieties.
Thus :—
N. incomparabilis x N. Pseudo -
narcissus = P. BACKHOUSEI.
N. incomparabilis x N. poeticus =
N. Barrl.
N. incomparabilis x N. poeticus =
N. BurBipGEI.
N. incomparabilis x N.
formis = N, LEEDSsI.
N. incomparabilis x N. Tazetta =
N,. ORIENTALIS.
Owing to its robust habit and
freedom, VV. incomparabilis and its
derivatives are all useful garden
plants, and thousands of them are
used for naturalising in the grass in
large parks and gardens. There are
many excellent forms, such as :—
Albert Victor, sulphur-white, with
a deep yellow cup. Annie Laden,
pale sulphur-white, with a white
orange-stained corona. Autocrat, full
self - yellow, with expanded yellow
corona. Peauty, sulphur-yellow, with
yellow bar; corona large, and mar-
gined orange-scarlet Sertie, creamy-
white; cup yellow, edged orange.
C.J. Backhouse, yellow ; cupJong, and
of a rich orange-red colour. Com-
mander, pale sulphur; large yellow
cup staimed orange-red. Cynosure,
primrose changing to white; cup
stained orange-scarlet. Dr Gorman,
pure white ; pale yellow cup. Edward
Hart, perianth and cup deep yellow.
pocult-
Figaro, yellow; cup edged with
orange. rank Miles, soft clear
yellow. George Nicholson, pure
white; cup clear yellow. Gloria
Mundi, clear rich yellow perianth ;
large cup much expanded and very
368
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
heavily stained orange-scarlet. Go-
liath, large white perianth barred
yellow ; large yellow corona. Gwyther,
yellow ; cup suffused orange. Hogarth,
full yellow goffered cup, very large
and expanded; perianth twisted.
James Bateman, pure white; clear
yellowcup. Aving of the Netherlands,
sulphur - yellow; cup, very large,
stained orange. Leedsi, yellow ; cup
stained rich orange-scarlet. Lorenzo,
soft primrose, changing to white ; cup
yellow. Lulworth, pure white ; cup
bright orange-red. J/abel Cowan,
white ; cup broadly margined orange-
scarlet. JJagog, sulphur ; large yellow
cup. Mary Anderson, pure white ;
cup bright orange-scarlet. Povteau,
white ; cup yellow. Prince of Wales,
sulphur-yellow ; cup stained orange-
scarlet. Prince Teck, creamy-white ;
cup yellow, large and expanded.
Princess Mary, creamy-white peri-
anth; large cup, suffused orange.
Queen Bess, pure white, with large
light yellow much-expanded cup.
Queen Sophia, sulphur-yellow ; frilled
cup, heavily stained orange-scarlet.
Red Coat, orange-yellow, with orange-
red corona frilled on the margin. Red
Star, creamy-white ; corona stained
red. Semi-partitus, soft pale prim-
rose; cup primrose, deeply lobed.
Sir Watkin (probably a_ hybrid
between a form of Pseudo -nar -
cissus and poeticus), rich sulphur ;
cup yellow, slightly tinged with
orange. Ste/Ja, white, with yellow
crown; the form known as Stella
superba, being a great improvement
in size. Splendens, sulphur-yellow ;
corona edged orange-scarlet.
These are several double-flowered
forms of V. incomparabilis, the best
being Butter and Eggs, large yellow,
with deep orange centre; Codlins
and Cream (or Sulphur Phoenix), pure
white, with a sulphur-yellow centre ;
Eggs and Bacon (or Orange Phenix),
NARCISSUS
white, with a rich orange centre;
Primrose Queen, primrose - yellow,
shading to orange in centre; and
White Queen, like Sulphur Phenia,
but of a purer white.
Fic. 268.—Narcissus incomparabilis Sir
Watkin. (3.)
N. intermedius.—This is considered
to be a natural hybrid between J.
Tazetta and NV. Jonquilla. From four
to ten flowers are borne on a scape,
the segments being bright lemon-
yellow, and the cup-shaped corona
orange-yellow. It is a native of the
Pyrenees. (Red. Lil. t. 427.)
N. Johnstoni.—A beautiful Portu-
guese Daffodil, considered to be a
natural hybrid between NV. bicolor
Horsfieldi and N. triandrus. The
typical form has clear, soft, sulphur-
yellow flowers. There are several
forms, amongst them the Queen of
Spain, soft clear yellow, with grace-
fully reflexed petals ; King of Spain,
similar, but with shorter, broader
corona ; Mrs Geo, Cammell, soft clear
369
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
yellow ; and Snowdrop, pale sulphur-
yellow or white, two flowers usually
drooping from the stem.
Fic. 269.— Narcissus Johnstoni Queen of
Spain. (4.)
N. Jonquilla,—This is the sweet-
scented Jonquil of S. Europe and
Algeria, with roundish leaves 8 to 12
ins. long, deeply channelled down
the face, From two to six rich yellow
and highly fragrant flowers, with a
cup-shaped corona, are borne on the
scapes. (Bot. Mag. t. 15.)
Amongst the varieties are jlore
pleno, a rich golden-yellow, double-
flowered form known as “Queen
Anne’s Jonquil”; jonguilloides, a
more robust form than the type ; and
minor, a dwarf form, with flowers
much smaller than in the type.
N. juncifolius,—The Rush-leaved
Jonquil, as this is called, is a native of
the Pyrenees, having small bulbs,
slender roundish leaves 4 to 6 ins,
long, and small umbels of bright
2A
NARCISSUS
yellow flowers with ovate segments
about 4 in. long, and a cup-shaped
corona, There are several varieties,
among them being rupicola (or JN.
apodanthus), which has a corona dis-
tinctly six-lobed (Bot. Mag. t.
6473, c.). WV. scaberulus is closely re-
lated to this.
N. Leedsi (NV, poculiformis x N. in-
comparabilis). —A beautiful hybrid,
having rather drooping milk-white
flowers, with a sulphur-yellow cup-
shaped corona about 4 in. deep and
wide, the oblong acute petals being
over 1 in, long. Amongst the forms
of the JLeedsx Daffodils may be
noted :—Acis, large, white, with
orange-stained cup. Albion, large,
white, with sulphur cup. Amabilis,
white divisions, large and spreading ;
cup long and conspicuous, changing
from primrose to white. eatrice,
flowers pure white, elegantly shaped
cup. Duchess of Brabant, white ; cup
canary - yellow, changing to white.
Duchess of Connaught, large expanded
cup, pearly-white. Duchess of West-
minster, pure white; long canary-
yellow cup tinted orange. H/egans,
drooping white perianth; corona
sometimes stained apricot. ‘anny
Mason, white, canary - yellow cup.
Gem, white. Grand Duchess, white ;
cup stained orange. Jon. Mrs
Barton, glistening white; cup
changing from primrose to white.
Janthe, sulphur changing to white ;
cup canary-yellow. Katherine Spur-
rell, white of a beautiful lustre ; cup
bright yellow. Madame Magdalene
de Graaff, usually two - flowered,
creamy-white ; crown orange. Madge
Matthew, large white; well-formed
cup. Maggie May (Edmond’s White),
flowers very large, white; cup pale
citron-yellow, frilled. JM/innie /Tume,
pure white ; cup large, canary-yellow,
changing to white. Mrs Langtry,
pure white; cup margined with
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
golden-yellow. Modesty, silver-white
segments drooping over and much
longer than the white corona. Pal-
merston, sweet-scented white flowers
with a canary-yellow corona. Prin-
cess of Wales, pure white; large,
expanded, beautifully frilled cup,
Superbus, divisions large and droop-
ing, pure white; cup changing from
primrose to white. Una, large,
creamy - white; cup citron - yellow,
tinged apricot.
N. Macleayi.—A charming little
Daffodil, with scentless flowers, hav-
ing ovate oblong milk -white seg-
ments, and a bright yellow corona
about 4 in. long and broad (Lot, Reg.
t. 987). WV. Sabini is similar, but a
more vigorous plant with larger
flowers (Bot. Reg. t. 762).
N. major (V, hispanicus).—This, the
great Spanish Daffodil, is a form of
Fia. 270.—Narcissus major obvallaris. (4.)
N. Pseudo-narcissus. It has bright
lemon-yellow flowers, the corona being
370
NARCISSUS
deeply lobed and much crisped on the
margin.
Distinct forms of V. major (often
placed under WV. Pseudo-narcissus) are
obvallaris, well known as the “Tenby
Daffodil,” a distinct early form
with uniform yellow flowers ; spurius,
with broad imbricating petals and
expanded corona, fine self-yellow ;
spurius coronatus has pale yellow
petals; Zelamonius (or Single Van
Sion), sulphur-yellow, with a deeper
yellow trumpet; Zelamonius plenus
(perhaps better known as the Double
Van Sion), a fine double golden-yellow
flower grown almost everywhere.
N. minor.—A distinct little Spanish
Daffodil, resembling WV. Pseudo-
marcissus Im appearance, but very
much smaller in every way. The
leaves are only 3 to 4 ins, long and
about } in. broad, and the flowers are
1 to 1} in. long, with gracefully
twisted sulphur-yellow segments, and
a deeper yellow trumpet or corona,
The variety minimus is the smallest
of the “trumpet” Daffodils, and has
flowers much smaller and of a deeper
yellow than the typical mznor, The
variety nanus has bright yellow
flowers, and a corona not so deeply
lobed. There is also a double form,
called plenus or Rip Van Winkle, with
deep yellow flowers.
N. moschatus (V. candidissimus).—
A Pyrenean Daffodil with pure white
flowers when fully open, having
twisted petals 1 to 1} ins. long, and a
plaited corona about 1 in. across (Lot,
Mag. t. 1300).
The variety albicans has larger
flowers, with a more recurved rim to
the corona ; cernuus has silvery white
drooping flowers; while cernuus
pulcher has a larger and more spread-
ing corona, passing from primrose-
yellow to white withage. The variety
tortuosus (also known as Leda and
Sarnian Be'le) has pure white twisted
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
petals, at first sulphur-yellow but
afterwards white.
N. muticus (JV. abscissus).—A
Pyrenean Daffodil with sulphur-
yellow flowers, having a deep yellow
corona about 3 ins. across, There are
several forms. (Floral Mag. t. 224.)
N. Nelsoni.— A pretty Daffodil
closely related to V. Macleay, having
creamy-white flowers and a lemon-
yellow corona about ? in. long.
Amongst the best forms are :—
Aurantius (Nelson’s Orange), white,
with broad, straight, bright yellow
corona, edged with orange-scarlet.
Border Maid, pure white ; clear yellow
trumpet. Major, white; bright
yellow trumpet tinged with orange.
Minor, pure white; yellow corona.
Mrs C. J. Backhouse, pure white ;
corona broad yellow, spreading. J/7s
E. G. Knights, white ; cup stiff bright
yellow. Pulchellus, drooping, white ;
cup yellow. Wm. Backhouse, broad
white petals ; corona clear yellow.
Fic. 271.—Narcissus odorus.
N. odorus (Zhe Campernelle Jon-
quil)—A native of S. Europe, and
371
NARCISSUS
probably a hybrid between VV. Jon-
quilla and N. Pseudo-narcissus. It
has bulbs over an inch through, and
narrow, bright green, rush-like leaves
deeply channelled down the face.
From two to four sweetly scented
bright yellow flowers with a shallow
cup-shaped: corona are borne on the
scapes. (Red. Lil. t. 157.)
The variety heminalis has smaller
golden-yellow flowers ; rugiosus has
deep yellow flowers with a crinkled
corona; plenus is a sweet-scented
double-flowered form of deep yellow,
often known as “Queen Anne’s Jon-
quil.” The variety minor has flowers
about 1 in. across, and is smaller in
every way than the type.
N. orientalis.—This is considered to
be a hybrid between WV. cncompara-
bilis and NV. Tazetta, and bears three
to four sulphur-yellow flowers with a
cup-shaped orange-yellow corona on a
stem.
N. poculiformis (VV. montanus).—A
native of the Pyrenees, and con-
sidered to be a natural hybrid between
the Paper-white Narcissus (V. V'azetta
papyracea) and N, moschatus, The
stems bear one or two fragrant pure
white flowers with spreading petals
about 1 in long, and a cup-shaped
corona. (Bot. Reg. t. 123.)
N. Poetaz.—This name—a felicitous
combination of the two parent
names—has been given and is now
generally accepted for the hybrids
obtained by crossing NV. poeticus
ornatus with the finest varieties of
N. Tazetta, The individual blossoms
resemble the poeticus parents strongly
in appearance, but several (instead
cf one) are borne on a stem, and in
addition they have inherited the
fragrance of the TVazetta parents.
They are also quite hardy, and may
be grown in the open border as well
asin pots. Some good forms are :—
Alsace, pure white, with yellow cup
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
edged with red when opening.
Aspasia, pure white, with yellow cup ;
true poeticus type, three to four
flowers on stem 2 ft. high. Elvira,
large white flowers with yellow eye,
Ideal, white with dark orange eye ;
large truss. Jrene, pale primrose,
with prettily fluted orange cup ; eight
to nine flowers in truss. Jaune a
Merveille, exquisite soft yellow, with
Fic. 272.—Narcissus Poetaz. (3.)
deep golden cup. Klondyke, yellow,
with deep goldencup. Lucia, yellow,
with golden-yellow cup. Scarlet
Gem, flowers 2 ins. across, rich
apricot yellow ; cup flat and crinkled,
bright brick-red. Swnset, soft yellow,
with rich orange cup.
There are now many growers of
Daffodils and Narcissi, and the
reader would do well to consult
current catalogues for the newer
creations.
N. poeticus.—This is the well-
known Poet’s or Pheasant’s Eye Nar-
cissus, It is a native of 8. Europe,
372
— See ll Te
NARCISSUS
and has bulbs about 1 in. through,
and narrow blue-green leaves about 1
ft. long. The beautiful white solitary
flowers, 14 to 2 ins. across, have
spreading petals, and a very shallow
saucer-shaped corona distinctly edged
with red or orange. (ed. Lil.
t. 160.)
Fic. 273.—Narcissus poeticus.
There are several varieties, amongst
the best known being :—Albatross,
white; citron-yellow cup edged
orange-red. Almira (or King Edward
Vi1.), snow-white, with canary-
yellow cup rimmed with red. Jv-
jlorus, creamy-white ; pale yellow cup.
Grandiflora precoz, white; cup
edged crimson. Ornatus, broad pure
white petals; cup edged scarlet ;
sweet-scented. A fine early variety
grown in thousands by market
gardeners, Poetarum, an improved
early form like the type. Recurvus, a
late - flowering variety with petals
somewhat reflexed.
In addition to these single-flowered
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
varieties mention must be made of
the pure double-white form, called
alba plena odorata, or the “ Gardenia-
flowered Narcissus,” as the rosettes of
pure white overlapping petals suggest
this flower. This variety is the last
of all the poeticus to flower—often well
into June. It has been developed
from a variety called patellaris, and
when it flowers freely is one of the
best varieties for selling. Unfortun-
ately it often comes “blind,” that is
to say, the flower-stems appear, but
the blossom never emerges from the
papery spathe at the top. The
only cure for this defect seems to be
to move the bulbs every year to a
fresh place, selecting well - drained
soil of a rich loamy nature. The
ways in which NV. poeticus and varie-
ties may be used are numerous—
borders, rockeries, grassland, wood-
lands, by the sides of lakes, ponds, or
streams, and as pot plants, are a few.
N. Pseudo-narcissus.—This is the
Common Trumpet, Ajax, or Lent
Lily, a native of the copses and pas-
tures in partsof England. The bulbs
are 1 to 13 ins. through, and the
narrow blue-green leaves are about
1 ft. long. The solitary flowers
appear in March and April on stems
over a foot high, the oblong petals
being pale sulphur-yellow and over
1 in. long, while the plaited corona
or trumpet is lemon-yellow and about
1 in. across the irregularly crenated
mouth.
There are several wild varieties of
the Lent Lily, such as cambricus,
sulphur-white, with a yellow trumpet ;
lobwaris, a uniform lemon-yellow,
with a six-lobed trumpet; pallidus
precox, an early Pyrenean form, with
flowers varying from pale lemon-
yellow to white ; rwgilobus, primrose-
yellow, with large yellow trumpet ;
scoticus, known as the “Garland
Lily,” similar to the type, but earlier ;
373
NARCISSUS
variiformis (or nobilis), a Pyrenean
form intermediate between JV. mos-
chatus and the type, white, with
canary-yellow trumpet.
There are also many choice hybrid
or garden forms, which may be
divided into two colour groups as
follows :—
GOLDEN AND SHADES oF YELLOW.
Ard Righ (Yellow King), golden-
yellow self. Countess of Annesley,
sulphur ; trumpet rich yellow. Eliza
Fic. 274.—Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus Golden
Spur. (3.)
Turck, dwarf, beautiful lemon-yellow.
Emperor, primrose; long and wide
yellow trumpet. red Moore, prim-
rose; large golden trumpet. Glory
of Leiden, dark yellow trumpet ;
perianth of a slightly lighter shade.
Golden Spur, yellow ; trumpet rich
golden yellow, large and distinctly
lobed. Henry Irving, golden yellow.
King Alfred, a giant golden Daffodil.
King’s Norton, a very large rich
deep yellow. Lady Witlles, prim-
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
rose - yellow; bold yellow trumpet.
M. J. Berkeley, rich yellow ; large
expanded trumpet. J/aximus, rich
golden yellow; trumpet large and
spreading. P. R. Barr, primrose ;
trumpet rich yellow. Princeps, sul-
phur; trumpet yellow. Rugilobus,
trumpet yellow, segments _ paler.
Shirley Hibberd, light yellow ; trumpet
deep yellow. Spurius, distinct, large
expanded trumpet; early, and forces
well. Van Waveren’s Giant, a
gigantic primrose flower, with bright
Fic. 275.—Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus King
Alfred. (4.)
yellow bell-shaped trumpet. Wolly
Farr, clear soft yellow ; trumpet rich
deep yellow. And many others.
WuitE VARIETIES,
C. W. Cowan, white; trumpet
canary colour, Corrie Plemp, white ;
trumpet light primrose passing to
white. Duchess of Connaught, peri-
anth and trumpet primrose and white.
Madame de Graaf, fine white trumpet.
Mrs J. LB. M. Camm, white ; trumpet
sulphur-white. drs 7'’homson, pure
white. Princess Jda, white ; trumpet
374
NARCISSUS
white, edged golden. Rowena, large
trumpet, silvery white flushed peach.
Snowflake, white; trumpet tinged
apricot.
The forms of WV. Pseudo-narcissus
are much confused, and many of
them are placed under various head-
ings by different growers. The
reader will find those not mentioned
above under such headings as J.
bicolor, V. major, NV. moschatus, and
NV. muticus.
To the above single-flowered forms
must be added the following double-
flowered ones :—
Capazx (or eystettensis), soft lemon-
yellow, with numerous starry petals ;
grandiplenus, deep yellow; plenissi-
mus, the old double ; scoticus plenus,
the double-flowered “Garland Lily ” ;
and plenus, the Double Lent Lily, or
Gerarde’s White and Double Yellow
Daffodil.
N. Tazetta.—This is the “ Poly-
anthus” or “Bunch” Narcissus, and
is the species referred to by the
ancient Greek and Roman poets, not
NV. poeticus, as many imagine. It is
a widely distributed species, and
although largely existing in Italy and
Southern France, it is also found in the
Canary Islands and Portugal, and from
Syria to Cashmere, China, and Japan.
Its geographical distribution would
therefore account largely for its great
variation, The typical WV. Tazetta
has bulbs 1} to 2 ins. in diameter.
four to six narrow and somewhat
grey-green leaves 12 to 18 ins. long,
4 to ? in. broad, and the somewhat
flattened scape bears an umbel of four
to eight flowers 1 to 1} ins. across.
The obovate petals are pure white,
and the shallow cup-shaped corona
is lemon-yellow, and from } to 4 in,
across.
The Polyanthus Narcissus is _per-
haps better grown in pots under
glass, but it may be grown quite
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
well in the open in the mildest parts
of the Kingdom; and also in less
favoured spots if protected with a
little bracken or litter in severe
winters. Enormous numbers of some
varieties such as the “Scilly White ”
(ochroleucus), “Grand Soleil d’or”
Fia. 276.—Narcissus Tazetta Grand
Monarque. (4.)
(aureus), “Grand Monarque,” and
“Paper White,” are grown in
the Scilly Islands, off Cornwall, as
marketable crops, and tons of flowers
are sent to the London and provincial
markets every spring.
There are three distinct groups of
NV, Tazetta, viz. :—
1, Flowers white, with a yellow
or orange corona, represented by
Lazelman Major, Couronne Blanche,
Gloriosa, Grand Monarque, Grand
Primo, Her Majesty, Laura, Maestro,
Mont Cents, Queen of the Nether-
lands, Scilly White, Staaten General,
and White Perfection,
2. Flowers all white, represented
375
NARCISSUS
by Early Snowflake, Paper White
(papyraceus), White Pearl.
3. Flowers all yellow, represented
by Apollo, aureus, Bertolini, Bath-
urst, Charles Dickens, cupularis, Jaune
Supréme, Lord Canning, Soleil dor,
etc.
The variety known as Bazelman
minor is a natural hybrid between
N. Tazetta and N. poeticus, and is
something like JV, biflorus, but smaller
and with more flowers on the stem.
The Double Roman Narcissus
(Tazetta romanus) has white flowers
with a little yellow in the cup. It
flowers freely and forces well.
Fic. 277.—Narcissus Tazetta, variety (Chinese
Sacred Lily). (4.)
What is known as the “Chinese
Sacred Lily” or “Joss Flower” is an
Eastern form of WV. Vazetta, with
large bulbs, and five to nine sweet-
scented white flowers with a yellow
cup on a stem. Well-ripened bulbs
may be grown easily in pots, pans,
or bowls filled with pebbles and
water, In a sunny window in a
dwelling-room.
N. triandrus.—This beautiful
THE BULB BOOK
NARCISSUS
Narcissus from the Peninsula (Spain
and Portugal) is known as “Gany-
mede’s Cup.” The bulbs are less
than 1 in. in diameter, and the very
slender roundish leaves are channelled
on the upper surface. The drooping
flowers are pure white, up to nine in
a cluster, and are remarkable for the
petals being sharply bent backwards
as in JV. cyclamineus, N. Johnstoni,
Queen of Spain. There are several
varieties, such as :—
Albus, a charming white form
known as “Angel’s Tears.” Cala-
thinus, snowy white to pale sulphur-
yellow. Concolor, pale soft yellow ;
Y
Fia. 278.—Narcissus triandrus.
rare. Pallidulus, primrose-yellow.
Pulchellus, primrose-yellow, with a
white cup.
NV. triandrus and its charming
forms are safer grown in pots or pans,
or in sheltered nooks in the rockery
where they will not be likely to dis-
appear. ‘The stock may be increased
376
NARCISSUS
by offsets, and also by sowing as
many seeds as possible when ripe.
NV. triandrus has been largely used
by the hybridist, and some very fine
forms have been raised by its means,
N. tridymus.—Under this name
several fine hybrids from the large
and single-flowered trumpet, J.
Pseudo-narcissus, and the many-
flowered small WV. Vazetta are known,
most of them having more than one
flower on a stem. Some good ones
are :—
A, Rawson, large, bold, yellow.
Duchess of Albany, sulphur-yellow,
with yellow cup. Duke of Albany,
sulphur ; cuporange. S.A. de Graaf,
large, uniform yellow. Jiss White,
silvery white; three to four flowers
on stem.
N. viridifiorus.——An interesting
species from Morocco and Gibraltar ;
remarkable for producing its flowers
usually in November and December
instead of in spring. The bulbs are
roundish, about 1 in. through, and the
roundish leaves are not produced
with the flowers. These are borne
two to four on a slender stalk 1 to 14
ft. high, and are of a green colour,
the lance-shaped acute segments
being reflexed. (Bot. Mag. t. 1687.)
DisEasEs.—It often happens that
Narcissus bulbs are attacked with
the grub of the Narcissus Fly
(Merodon equestris), an insect like a
small and slender bumble-bee. The
grub eats its way into the bulbs
during the summer and autumn
months and destroys the tissues by
the end of November, when it be-
comes a chrysalis and buries itself in
the soil. They may be recognised
by their dull brown colour, egg-like
shape, and rough and wrinkled skin.
All badly injured bulbs should be
burned, and in July and August the
stock should be examined, and any
bulbs affected should be steeped in
THE BULB BOOK
NELUMBIUM
water for about a week, to drown the
maggots. The insects themselves
when on the wing in summer should
be enticed to drown themselves in
saucers of sugary solutions,
NELUMBIUM (from nelumbo, the
Indian name), WATER Brean. Nat.
Ord. Nympheaceze.— This genus
contains only the two species
mentioned below. They are both
aquatic plants, having thick fleshy
root-stocks, from which arise long
stalks surmounted by a huge circular
peltate leaf depressed in the centre,
The large solitary flowers are thrown
up well above the leaves, and are
composed of numerous petals and
numerous stamens surrounding an
obconical or flat top-shaped ovary in
the centre. When ripe the ovary is
pierced with holes, and very much
resembles the coarse rose of a water-
ing can.
N. luteum.—This is the “ Yellow
Lotus” of the 8. United States and
Jamaica. It has blue-green leaves
1 to 13 ft. across, and pale yellow
sweet-scented flowers about a foot
across when fully expanded. (Sot.
Mag. t. 3753.)
This species may be grown in rich
loam and well-rotted manure in tanks
of water, or in tubs or pots sunk in
water. Although hardier than J.
speciosum, it nevertheless requires
some attention to flower it success-
fully in the open air, and even under
glass.
N. speciosum (the Sacred Bean
of India).—A charmingly beautiful
water plant, 6 to 8 ft. high, with
blue-green leaves often nearly 2 ft.
across, and large sweet-scented rose
and white blossoms 6 to 12 ins,
across (Lot. Mag. tt. 903, 3916, 3917 ;
Garden, 1893, i. 912).
There are several varieties of JV.
speciosum, not unnatural considering
377
NELUMBIUM
it exists in a wild state from India
and Ceylon to China and Japan.
In the last-named country several
forms have been raised, such as album
Jl. pl., with pure white double flowers ;
album striatum, flowers white, edged
and streaked with crimson ; grandi-
Jlorum album, flowers pure white,
very large; Kermesinum, deep rosy
carmine; Osiris, rosy crimson;
pekinense rubrum, rich reddish-
purple ; roseum fl. pl., pale rose, very
double; Shiroman, fine double,
creamy white to pure white.
THE BULB BOOK
NERINE
NEMASTYLIS (nema, a thread;
stylos, a column ; in reference to the
slender style). Nat. Ord. Iridew.—
A small genus of bulbous plants with
narrow or roundish sword - like
sheathing leaves and small flowers.
They are natives chiefly of Mexico
and N. America, and are fairly hardy
in the milder parts of the Kingdom.
If grown in a well-drained gritty soil
enriched with well-decayed manure,
they will do well. The only species
of any note appear to beN, celestina,
with bright blue flowers on stems
about 2 ft. high in May and June
(Gartenfl. t. 1081, fig. 1); and N.
geminiflora (or JV. acuta), which some-
what resembles a Tigridia. It has
narrow leaves, grows about 2 ft.
high, and in May and June produces
its rather fleeting purplish - blue
flowers from twin spathes (Sot.
Mag. t. 6666). N. Pringlei grows
only about 8 or 9 ins. high, and has
== sky-blue flowers.
Fic. 279.— Nelumbium speciosum.
(?=-)
Although in Southern France 1,
speciosum and its varieties may be
grown in the open air in lakes, etc.,
they are too tender for that purpose
in the British Islands. It is better to
grow them in warm and moist houses
the rhizomes being embedded in rich
loam and manure. A peculiarity of
the Nelumbiums is the fact that it
is impossible in the ordinary way to
wet the huge leaves. Water when
applied immediately forms large
globules which roll off the surface like
big drops of quicksilver.
NERINE (after Werine, a water-
nymph). Nat. Ord. Amaryllidee.—
A genus of ornamental bulbous plants
with long narrow leaves often pro-
duced after the flowers have faded.
The flowers are borne in umbels on
top of erect slender scapes, and are
funnel - shaped with more or less
spreading oblong lance-shaped, more
or less wavy segments, which are
often recurved.
The Nerines are all natives of S.
Africa, and are generally grown in
pots in cool greenhouses. They like
a compost of sandy loam witha little
peat or leaf-mould, and flower better
if not given toomuch space. Indeed,
several bulbs may be placed close
together, and in this way, according
to the size of the pot, a better floral
display will be produced. A pecul-
larity about Nerines is that they
vegetate during the winter months ;
378
NERINE
that is, the leaves are in a growing
and assimilating condition, and finish
their work about April or May.
During this period of activity the
plants should be kept on shelves in
the greenhouse close to the glass, to
secure as much light as possible ;
and the temperature at night should
not fall below 50° F., certainly not
below 45° F. Plenty of fresh air
should be given on all favourable
occasions to avoid a “stuffy” atmo-
sphere. When the leaves have
withered, the bulbs should be given
a period of rest. This is one of
the most important features in the
cultivation of Nerines. It will
benefit the plants during this resting
period to place them in a dry, sunny
position, and no water whatever
should be given. The flower-spikes
begin to appear in June, and from
then onwards till October and
November, and in some cases even
till January, a supply of blossom
may be expected during the dullest
months of the year.
PRoPAGATION.—Nerines are easily
propagated by offsets from the older
bulbs, detached after the flowers
have faded. Seeds may be ripened
in most cases, and if sown in gentle
heat in spring will germinate readily
in rich gritty soil. In about three
years they will make flowering bulbs.
The ease with which Nerines may be
raised from seeds has naturally
attracted the hybridist, and some
very fine forms have been evolved.
The species most used at present
are, curvifolia, flexuosa, pudica, and
sarniensis.
The following are some of the best
Nerines grown :—
N. amabilis (V. pudica x N. hum-
ais), bright pmk on stems 12 ins.
high,
N, appendiculata.—This species is
remarkable for having a strap-shaped
THE BULB BOOK
NERINE
process with two to four long apical
teeth at the base of each filament.
Flowers pale pink. (Gard. Chron.
1894, xvi. 336.)
N. atrosanguinea (VV. Planti x JV.
jlexuosa), deep salmon rose, 2 ins,
wide, wavy petals ; stem 12 to 18 ins,
high,
N. Bowdeni.—This is closely related
to NV. flexuosa. It has glossy green
(Z-)
thickish leaves over 1 ft. long and
4 in. broad. From six to twelve
flowers are borne in-an umbel on
scapes about 18 ins. high. They are
very large, and of a pale pink colour
with a darker line down the centre of
each of the recurved segments, which
are 24 to 3 ins. long. (Gard Chron.
1904, xxxvi. 365, f. 164; Mlora and
Sylva, May 1905.)
N, Cami (WV. curvifolia x N. undu-
lata), rosy scarlet, stems 12 ins, high.
N. curvifolia,—A fine species with
large umbels of glistening scarlet
flowers, each 1$ ins. across, with
broad reflexed segments, and borne
on stems 18 ins, high (Sot. Mag. t.
725; Red. Inl, t. 274).
The variety Yothergilli is stronger
379
NERINE
than the type and has more flowers
in the umbels (And. Bot. Rep. t.
163). It is undoubtedly one of the
finest and most free-flowering Nerines
in cultivation, and should prove to be
a valuable plant for market work if
grown in large numbers.
N. elegans (JV. fleruosa x N. rosea).
—aA fine hybrid with crimson flowers.
The variety caerulea has crimson
flowers tinted with blue, while alba
has pure white blossoms,
N, filifolia.—F lowers eight to ten in
an umbel, on scapes 1 ft. high.
Petals deflexed, bright red, 1 in. long.
(Bot. Mag. t. 6547.)
N. flexuosa.—In this species the
bright green leaves about 1 ft. long,
and sometimes roughened with
pustules on the face, appear at the
same time as the flowers, about Sep-
tember. The flexuose scape is
sometimes 2 to 3 ft. high, and bears
an umbel of ten to twenty pale pink
flowers with wavy petals 17 ins. long.
(Bot. Reg. t. 172.)
There are several varieties, such as
angustifolia, having very narrow leaves
(Ref. Bot. t. 329); pulchella, leaves
firmer in texture than in the type,
scape not flexuose,,and flowers pale
pink with a rose-red keel to the
segments (Bot. Mag. t. 2407); alba,
with white flowers ; and Sandersoni,
with broader leaves and less wavy
petals.
N. humilis.—This comes near J.
flexuosa, but is dwarfer in growth and
has narrower and more deeply
channelled leaves, About ten to
twenty pink or rose-red flowers with
defiexed petals are borne on slender
scapes 6 to 18 ins. high. (Sot. Mag.
t. 726; Red. Lil, t. 449.)
N. Manselli (NV. flexuosa x N.
Fothergilli).—This fine hybrid com-
memorates Mr Mansell, a hybridist
of Guernsey. It has. broader: leaves
than other kinds, produced at the same
THE BULB BOOK
NERINE
time as the bright rosy flowers, in
November and December. The
scapes are about 2 ft. high, and the
umbels 6 ins. through, having from
twelve to eighteen blossoms with
recurved segments. (Gard., November
1899.)
N. Meadowbanki (JV. sarniensis x
N. Fothergilli)—This seems to be
merely a form of V. Fothergilli.
N. Moorei.—Closely related to WV.
curvifolia, but distinguished by its
bright green (not blue-green), slightly
twisted leaves, 9 to 12 ins. long and
4 to ? in. broad. Flowers bright
scarlet with wavy segments, and
borne six to nine in an umbel on
flattened scapes about 9 ins, high.
N. pancratioides.—This species has
long narrow leaves, roundish in the
lower half. The scapes are about
2 ft. high, and bear umbels of
twelve to twenty white flowers, which
have small square bifid scales between
each of the filaments,as in Pancratium.
(Gard. Chron, 1891, x. 576.)
N. pudica.—This species has narrow
blue-green leaves 8 to 9 ins. long, and
slender scapes 1 to 13 ft. high,
bearing umbels of ivory-white flowers
sometimes keeled with pink, the
petals being very slightly wavy (Bot.
Mag. t. 5901). The variety Hlwesi
has broader jleaves, more compact
umbels, and pale rose flowers of a
more substantial texture, and alba
has snow-white blossoms, JV. Strick-
landi is a hybrid between NV. pudica
and NV, eurvifolia.
N. sarniensis.—This is the
“Guernsey Lily” which has been
cultivated in the Channel Islands for
two hundred years. It has ovoid
bulbs 14 to 2 ins. in diameter, and
bright green narrow leaves developed
after the flowers. From ten to
twenty of these are borne in an
umbel on slender scapes 1 to 14 ft.
high in September. They are bright
380
NIPHAGA
crimson in colour, about 135 ins.
across, the sickle-shaped segments
being scarcely crisped; filaments
bright red. (ot. Mag. t. 294; Red.
Lal, t. 35.)
The variety corusca has broader
leaves and large bright scarlet flowers
(Bot. Mag. t. 1089) ; Planti has longer
scapes and flowers of a _ duller
crimson; profusa, bright scarlet
flowers produced late in August ;
rosea, rose-red (Bot. Mag. t. 2124) ;
and venusta, with pale green leaves
and bright scarlet flowers with rather
wavy petals (Sot. Mag. t. 1090).
NV. Allent is a cross between corusca
major and JV. sarniensis,
N. undulata (V. crispa).—F lowers
pale pink with very wavy segments,
eight to twelve in an umbel, on
slender scapes 1 to 1} ft. high (Bot.
Mag. t. 369; Red. Lil. t. 115).
NIPHZEA (niphos, snow ; in refer-
ence to the white flowers). Nat.
Ord. Gesneraceze.—A genus contain-
ing three species of softly hairy
herbaceous hothouse plants, from
Mexico to Cuba, having creeping
root-stocks, oval, toothed leaves, and
clusters of white flowers in the axils
of the leaves. Corolla rotate, with a
very short tube and five broad lobes.
The best-known species is N. oblonga,
a native of Guatemala, about 1 ft.
high, having oblong heart-shaped,
toothed, and wrinkled leaves, and
drooping white flowers in winter.
(Bot. Reg. 1842, t. 5.)
This plant flourishes in rich sandy
loam and peat or leaf-soil, and
requires a night temperature of 60°
to 65° F. during active growth, but
45° to 50° when at rest. It may be
propagated by division of the root-
stocks in spring in the same way as
ACHIMENES,
NOTHOSCORDUM (nothes, spur-
ious ; scordon, garlic; in allusion to
THE BULB BOOK
NOTHOSCORDUM
its affinity with Garlic). Nat. Ord.
Liliaceze.—A genus related to Allium,
containing about ten species of hardy
or half-hardy bulbous plants, having
flat narrow leaves, and flowers in
umbels on top of erect scapes. They
are not particularly fine garden
plants, and are only fit for botanical
collections. They grow in ordinary
good garden soil in warm sheltered
spots, or in bleak localities may be
sheltered in a frame. They are pro-
pagated by offsets or seeds.
N. fragrans is a strong-growing
and hardy North American species 1
to 2 ft. high, with umbels of white
sweet-scented flowers keeled with
lilac (Bot. Reg. t. 898; ed. Lil.
t. 68).
N. inodorum has whitish flowers
keeled with brownish - purple, and
grows about 18 ins. high (Bot, Mag.
t. 1129, as Allvwm).
N. neriniflorum produces its pink
flowers in June and July (Bot. Reg.
1847, t. 5).
N, striatellum has _ greenish-
yellow flowers (Bot, Mag. t. 2419, as
Ornithogalum gramineum).
N, striatum has white flowers in
Fia. 281.—Nothoscordum striatum. (%.)
May (Bot. Mag. tt. 1035, 1524, as
Allium).
381
NUPHAR
NUPHAR (from naufar, the Arabic
for Water Lily). Nat. Ord. Nymphe-
acee.— A small genus of aquatic
plants closely related to the Water
Lilies proper (Nymphea), having
thick fleshy root-stocks, roundish
heart-shaped leaves deeply lobed at
the base, and large yellow flowers
with numerous petals and stamens
surrounding a peltate rayed stigma in
the centre. The culture is exactly
the same as described below for
NYMPH#A,
N. advenum,—A native of the
lakes, ponds, and ditches of N.
America, having large yellow flowers
with red anthers to the stamens (Bot.
Mag, t. 684, as Nymphea).
N. luteam,—This is the Yellow
Water Lily or “Brandy Bottle” of
Britain. It has roundish deeply
= (=A \ iS ZA AY
Lier
Fic. 282.—Nuphar luteum.
lobed leaves 8 to 12 ims, across, and
produces its sweet-scented yellow
flowers from June to August slightly
above the surface of the water.
THE BULB BOOK
N. pumilum (Vymphea Kalmiana).
—This species is found wild not only
in Britain, but also over Arctic and
Central Europe and Asia, It is like
NV. luteum, but is smaller in all parts,
and has eight to ten rays to the
stigma instead of tentothirty. (Bot.
Mag. t. 1243.)
NYMPHZ@A (from nymphe, a water-
nymph), Water Liry. Nat. Ord.
Nymphzacee.—A genus containing
between forty and fifty species of
water - plants, with thickish fleshy
roots, roundish leaves lobed at the
base, and solitary flowers on fleshy
stalks, on, or some little distance
above, the surface of the water. The
fiowers have four sepals, numerous
petals gradually becoming smaller
from the outside inwards and passing
into stamens. Carpels numerous,
sunk in a fleshy disc forming a many-
celled ovary surmounted by radiating
stigmas, and ultimately ripening into
a spongy berry under water.
The Water Lilies must be divided
into hardy, half-hardy, and tender
kinds, but they all require water and
a rich muddy soil to flourish. Loam
and old cow-manure make a good
compost. The hardy kinds grow in
the open air in lakes, ponds, or
streams, the best-known representa-
tive being the common white-flowered
British Water Lily (WV. alba). The
half-hardy ones — generally hybrids
between the hardy and tender kinds
—grow well enough in the open air
during the summer months, but they
are usually placed in tanks of water
in which arrangements have been
made to supply artificial heat if
necessary by hot-water pipes. The
root-stocks for open-air work are
usually placed in wicker baskets,
embedded in the stiffish loam and
manure, and carefully dropped into
the bottom of the lake, pond, or
382
.
NYMPH2A |
—
ee Eee
NYMPHAZA
stream, either near the margin or
from a boat or punt in deep water.
Very often, however, the rhizomes are
just tied to a big stone and sunk into
the mud at the bottom. In some
cases, as at Mr Robinson’s place at
Gravetye Manor, in Sussex, they will
flourish in water from 16 to 20 ft.
deep, and send up their leaves and
flowers from that great depth. The
tender or hothouse kinds are easily
managed in warm-water tanks, and
may be sunk in pots or baskets a foot
or two beneath the surface of the
water.
PROPAGATION.—Water Lilies (in-
cluding the NupnHars) are easily
increased by dividing the root-stocks
with a strong knife in spring, and re-
planting. They may either be left
in the mud during the winter, or
taken up and stored in sand in a cool
but frost- proof place during the
winter. Seeds may also be sown
either when ripe or in spring, but it
will be necessary to pay some atten-
tion to saving them, as the pods ripen
under water, and run the risk of being
lost or destroyed by waterfowl in
the open air. The seeds should be
sown in flattish pots or pans in rich,
gritty soil, and sunk in water. When
the small round seed-leaves are seen
floating on the water, each plantlet
may be given a little pot to itself in
the usual rich compost, and again
placed under water.
Apart from the decoration of lakes,
ponds, streams, water-tanks, etc., the
flowers of Water Lilies—now of all
shades of colour, embracing red, white,
blue, yellow, rose, crimson, and
salmon—are excellent when cut, and
last quite a long time in a bowl of
water in rooms. By cutting off half
an inch or two of the stalks every
third or fourth day, the period of
freshness may be prolonged.
The following are some of the best-
THE BULB BOOK
NYMPHAA
known kinds of Water Lilies, the
words hardy, half-hardy, or tender
being added to give an idea as to
whether the plants are best grown
without heat in the open air, or in open
air with heated water, or under glass
altogether in heat in a temperature
of 70° to 90° when in full growth :—
N. alba. — The common white
British Water Lily. There are several
varieties, such as candidissima, one
Fic. 283.—Nymphea alba. (1.)
of the best, and broad-petalled ; rosea
(also known as JV. Caspary), a beauti-
ful pink form; and plenissima, in
which there are an extra number of
petals filling up the centre. All quite
hardy. There are several other forms
to which distinctive names like
maxima, minor, rubra, delicata, etc.,
have been given.
N. amazonum.—F lowers yellowish-
white, sweet-scented, 3 to 4 ins.
across. Native of Jamaica. Tender,
(Bot. Mag. t. 4823.) This species
and WV. ampla appear to be the same.
N. ampla_ speciosa, — Flowers
yellowish-white. Native of Jamaica.
Tender. (Bot Mag. t. 4469.) The
variety Gerardiana has leaves 2 ft.
across, red-brown above, blue-red and
strongly veined beneath; and very
large white or cream flowers.
N. aurora.—Pale rose, with golden
stamens. Half-hardy. See JW.
Laydekeri.
N. Baumi,—This species from 8.W.
Tropical Africa is the smallest
383
NYMPHAEA
known. It has roundish heart-
shaped leaves about 1 in. across, and
slightly scented white flowers scarcely
lin. wide. Tender.
N. blanda. — White.
Trinidad. Tender.
N. candida (JV. semiaptera).—A
Bohemian species like NV. alba, but
with much smaller snowy - white
flowers. Hardy.
N. Casparyi.—This is the name
now adopted for the plant grown
for many years under the name of
NV. gigantea. It differs from the
true V. gigantea in having smaller
and paler blue flowers with less
deeply cup-shaped petals. The
thinnish leaves are _ blue - violet
beneath, deeply indented and toothed
on the margins. ‘Tender.
N. Daubenyana.—This has large
sweetly -scented pale blue flowers,
remaining open all day but closing
at night. The leaves are remark-
able for producing little plants in the
basal sinus. Tender.
N. devoniensis,—A beautiful hybrid
between WV. Lotus and NV. rubra,
with bright rose or red flowers, often
over 6 ins. across, from March till
Native of
November. Tender. (ot. Mag. t.
4665.)
N. edulis (Castalia edulis),—White.
E. Indies. Tender,
N. elegans,—A native of New
Mexico. Flowers fragrant, yellowish-
white tinged with lilac or purplish-
blue. Tender. (Sot. Mag. t. 4604.)
N. fennica.—A native of E. Finland,
with small white flowers having ten
to fifteen narrow lance-shaped petals.
The stigmas are five to nine, pointed
with yellow or violet-tipped lobes.
(Gard. Chron. 1899, xxv. 139.)
Hardy.
N. flava.—A native of 8. United
States, with canary - yellow flowers,
Half-hardy. (Sot, Mag. t. 6917.)
N. Freebeli.—A hybrid with sweet-
THE BULB BOOK
NYMPHAA
scented deep crimson-purple flowers.
Quite hardy,
N. gigantea.—F lowers 6 to 8 ins.
across, blue with golden stamens.
Native of Australia. Tender. (Sot.
Mag. t. 4647.)
N. Gladstonei.—An American seed-
ling with highly fragrant flowers 8
ins, across, and pure white. Hardy.
N. Henkeliana.—This is closely
related to JV. stellata, but “differs in
having the leaves sinuate on the
margin, and in the colour of the
small flowers, which are white or
pale rose.” Tender,
N. Holtzei—An Australian species
readily recognised by its flat flowers,
which are pale blue, 4 to 5 ins.
across, and violet-scented. The thin
leaves are oval or roundish, without
teeth, and about 10 ins. long and 8
ins. broad. The variety Hleonore or
albifora, from Melville Island, has
pure white flowers. Tender.
N. James Gurney.— Another Ameri-
can seedling, with flowers 6 ins, across,
opening pink, but becoming deeper
with age. Hardy.
N. Kewensis.—A Kew hybrid be-
tween V. devoniensis and N. Lotus,
with rosy-carmine flowers (Bot. Mag.
t. 6988). Tender.
N. Laydekeri,—This name is given
to a group of hybrids (probably be-
tween V. pygmea and some other
species) raised by M. Marliac, of
Temple-sur-Lot, France. The flowers
are pale rose, becoming deeper tinted
with age. There are many variations
to which names have been given.
Amongst them may be _ noted :—
Andreana, brick-red, shaded with
yellow ochre; stamens orange, leaf-
stalks spotted with chestnut and
streaked with red-brown on the back.
Aurora may be called the Chameleon
Water Lily, as its exquisite flowers
change in colour from day to day,
being at first rose-yellow, then orange-
384
NYMPHASA
red, ultimately becoming deep red.
Blanda, pure white, 4 to 6 ins. across.
Caroliniana nivea, flowers pure white,
very large and double, very fragrant ;
stamens rich yellow. C. perfecta has
salmon-red flowers, very double ;
petals blunt and perfectly regular.
Ellisiana, brilliant carmine - purple.
Fulgens, with dark green outer sepals
and crimson-magenta petals, L’ulva
has creamy-yellow flowers tinted and
lined with bright red, the stamens
being golden-yellow, and the leaves
blotched with brown above and
spotted with red beneath. Gloriosa,
a lovely scented flower 7 ins. across,
very double, bright red, rosy white at
the tips of the lower} petals ; stamens
rich red. JLlacea, has lilac - rose
flowers scented like Tea Roses.
Lucida, soft vermilion, with orange
stamens, and large chestnut-spotted
leaves. Purpurata, deep rosy crimson
and vivid orange-red stamens, ob-
insoni, deep rose-coloured flowers,
deeper towards the centre, dotted
with white, and with orange-red
stamens. Rosea, flowers medium-
sized, tender pink to carmine;
stamens orange-red. Sanguinea, rich
carmine-amaranth or clear carmine ;
stamens orange-red, Setgnouretz,
delicate creamy-yellow tinted with
pale rose and carmine,
N. Lotus (V. rubra)—This is the
“Sacred Lotus” of the ancient
Egyptians. The rhizomes and fruits
used to be eaten. It is a beautiful
aquatic with large red or white
flowers, the sepals being edged with
red. (Bot. Mag. tt. 1280, 1364.)
The variety dentata, from Sierra
Leone, has white flowers 6 to 15 ins.
across (Bot. Mag. t. 4257). The
variety Arumbiegeli has large bright
red flowers with dark red stamens ;
leaves green above, red beneath.
Tender.
N. Marliacea.— This represents
THE BULB BOOK
NYMPHASA
another group of lovely hybrid
Water Lilies raised by M. Marliac,
and the following forms may be
noted :—alba, perhaps the largest and
best white Water Lily, the flowers
being fragrant and freely produced ;
carnea, flesh tinted, with a delicate
blush, and scented like vanilla;
chromatella, with brown mottled
leaves when young, and large fragrant
flowers of clear yellow, produced
from early spring till late autumn ;
flammea, white and reddish-purple,
the outer petals pink, deepening in
colour towards the centre ; ignea has
flowers about 5 ins. across, of a deep
bright rosy crimson surrounding the
vivid orange-red stamens; rosea is
the choicest of the hardy pink Water
Lilies, with large cup-shaped flowers
of an exquisite soft rose tint much
deeper than the variety carnea ;
rubro-punctata has flowers 4 ins,
across, deep mauve-purple delicately
dotted with carmine.
N. micrantha.—A West African
Water Lily, having roundish elliptic
leaves, purple-brown beneath, and
white or creamy flowers, smaller
than those of WV. alba. Tender.
(Bot. Mag. t. 4535.)
N. Moorianum.—An Australian
species with yellow flowers. Tender.
(Gard. 1908, lxiv. 90.)
N. nitida.—A Siberian species with
white scentless flowers 3 to 4 ins.
across. Hardy. (ot. Mag. t. 1359.)
N. odorata.—A beautiful North
American Water Lily like J. alba,
with white sweet-scented flowers, but
smaller, from June to September.
They are sometimes tinted with rose,
and are open in the morning, but
closed in the afternoon, Hardy.
(Bot. Mag. t. 819.)
There are several varieties, the best
being eaquisita, deep rosy-carmine ;
gigantea, very large flowers ; grandt-
flora, yellow, sweet-scented, leaves
385d 2B
NYMPHZA
mottled with brown above and
spotted red beneath; rosea, clear
soft pink; rubra, dark rose; sul-
phurea, sulphur-yellow, 8 ins. across,
leaves marbled.
N. Parkeriana, from British Guiana,
resembles V. odorata, and has large
pure white fragrant flowers with
yellow stamens.
N. pygmea,—This beautiful North
Asiatic species is, next to V. Baumi,
the smallest of the Water Lilies—
hardy or tender. Its heart-shaped
leaves are 3 to 4 ins. broad, and the
sweet-scented white flowers are about
2 ins. across. Quite hardy. (Lot.
Mag. t. 1525.)
N. scutifolia.—A South African
species resembling JV. stellata, but
having broader and blunter petals
to its sweet -scented bright blue
flowers. Tender. (/7. d. Serr. vi.
t. 645.)
N. stellata (V. cawrulea).—aA native
of Tropical Africa, with unspotted
leaves and delicately scented sky-
blue flowers during the summer
months (Bot. Mag. t. 552).
The variety cyanea is a pale blue
Indian form (Lot, Mag. t. 2058) ;
versicolor has white flowers flushed
with red (Bot. Mag. t. 1189); and
zanzbarensis has rich purple - blue
flowers about 7 ins. across (Bot. Mag.
t. 6843).
NV. stellata and its varieties may
be grown in open sunny tanks during
the summer months; but they are
usually regarded as tender.
N. Sturtevanti is a seedling from
NV. devoniensis, with large flowers of
a clear pale rosy-red.
N. tetragona.—A native of N.
Asia and parts of N. America,
having leaves 4 to 5 ims. across,
green above, red beneath. The
flowers are pure white with yellow
stamens, and measure only 1} to 2
ins. across. This little Water Lily
THE BULB BOOK
ORNITHOGALUM
does not increase freely from root-
stocks, but may be easily raised from
seeds. The variety /elvola has pale
yellow flowers 2 ins. across, while
himalayensis has white flowers only
1 in. across.
N. thermalis,— The Hungarian
Lotus, found in Hungary in the
warm river named Pecze. It has
sharply toothed leaves, and pure
white flowers with a wine-like odour.
(Lot. Mag. t. 797, as N. Lotus.)
N. tuberosa,—A fine free-growing
North American species remarkable
for its creeping root-stock bearing
oblong tubers. The faintly scented
white flowers appear in July and
August, and are from 4 to 7 ins,
across. Hardy. (Bot. Mag. t.
6536.)
The variety rosea has deliciously
fragrant pink flowers; and Richard-
sont has pure white double flowers.
N. Wm. Doogue.—An American
seedling with broad-petalled flowers
of a clear shell-pink colour. Hardy.
N. Wm. Falconer, — Another
American seedling intermediate
between WV. Laydekeri and WN.
Marliacea. The leaves are reddish
when young, but turn to olive-green
with red veins, and the ruby-crimson
flowers with orange-yellow anthers
are about 6 ins. across. Hardy.
N. Zenkeri.— A native of the
Cameroons, with small conical rhiz-
omes, long-stalked, deep heart-shaped,
lobed and toothed leaves, and white
flowers tinged with red, 2 to 3 ins.
across (Gartenfl. 1906, 519). Tender.
ORNITHOGALUM (ornis, a bird ;
gala, milk ; application mysterious),
Srarn oF BETHLEHEM. Nat. Ord.
Liliacee.—A large genus of plants
with tunicated bulbs, radical leaves.
and leafless scapes ending in clusters
of starry six-petalled flowers.
The hardy species flourish in any
386
ORNITHOGALUM
good and well-drained garden soil,
and should be planted in bold masses
for effect. They are easily increased
by offsets. The more tender kinds
are grown in sheltered spots or in
greenhouses ; or they may be grown
in the open air during the summer
months, after which the bulbs may
be lifted and stored in sand or soil
until the following spring.
Amongst the most useful kinds
for garden purposes mention may be
made of the following :—
O. arabicum.—A fine species from
S. Europe and N. Africa, having
large white pear-shaped bulbs,
thickish narrow leaves 12 to 18
Fic. 284.—Ornithogalum arabicum. (4.)
ins. long, and clusters of large
creamy-white flowers on stems 1 to
2 ft. high in June and July. The
bright yellow anthers and the shining
black ovary are conspicuous features
(Bot. Mag. t. 728.) As this is rather
tender, it is safer to lift the bulbs in
winter in bleak localities. It is an
effective plant when grown for con-
servatory decoration.
The species called 0. corymbosum,
THE BULB BOOK
ORNITHOGALUM
having white flowers keeled with
green, is very closely related (Bot.
Mag. t. 3179 ; Bot. Reg. t. 906).
O. aureum, from the Cape of Good
Hope, has yellow flowers, often
orange-tinted, in summer (Bot. Mag.
t. 190; Red. Lil, t. 439), 0. flavis-
simum is very similar (Jacg. Ic. t.
436). Rather tender.
O. capitatum.— Another South
African species with large trusses of
white flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 5388).
O. lacteum.—A very old South
African species, having from twenty
to fifty white flowers in dense clusters
(Bot. Mag. t. 1134; Bot. Reg. t. 274 ;
Red. Lnl, t. 418).
The variety conicum has narrower
leaves and petals, and the flowers
are borne in looser clusters (Lot.
Mag. t. 3538). Tender.
O. nutans.—This is a free-growing
Fic. 285.—Ornithogalum nutans. (4.)
and perfectly hardy species, which
produces its loose racemes of droop-
387
OSTROWSKIA
ing white flowers, veined outside with
green, about April and May (Bot.
Mag. t. 269). The variety Sou-
cheanum has larger and finer flowers
than the type.
O. pyramidale.—A pretty species
from §.W. Europe, having bright
green lance-shaped leaves, and pyra-
midal trusses of pure white flowers
striped outside with green (Jacq. Ie.
t. 425; Red. Lil. t, 422). Flourishes
almost anywhere,
O. pyrenaicum.— A _ Pyrenean
species now naturalised in parts of
Britain. Its flowers vary in colour
from yellowish- green to greenish-
white, and are borne on stalks 2 ft.
or more high. (Red. Lil. t. 234.)
Like O. pyramidale, this species
flourishes anywhere in shade or sun-
shine.
O. Saundersiz.—A native of the
Transvaal, related to O. arabicum.
The scapes are about 3 ft. high, bear-
ing umbels of about twenty flowers,
each an inch across, white tinged
outside with green. (Gard. Chron.
1891, x. 452.)
O. umbellatum.— This is the
common “Star of Bethlehem,” native
of 8. Europe, but now naturalised in
parts of Britain, in copses and
meadows, The narrow leaves, 6 to
12 ins. long, have a white stripe down
the centre, and the umbel-like or
corymbose clusters of white ‘flowers
striped behind with green appear in
May and June. (Red, Lil, t. 143.)
Flourishes anywhere, but the flowers
are remarkable for opening an hour
or.so before midday and closing about
4 P.M,
OSTROWSEIA (after Ostrowski, a
tussian botanist), Nat. Ord. Cam-
panulaceze.—The only representative
of the genus at present is—
O. magnifica.—A splendid hardy
herbaceous perennial 4 to 5 ft. high,
388
THE BULB BOOK
OSTROWSKIA
from the mountains of Eastern Bok-
hara, in Central Asia. It has large
tuberous roots about 2 ft. long when
fully grown, and the lance-shaped
acute leaves with toothed margins
are borne in whorls or circles on the
stems. The charming bell - shaped
Fia, 286.—Ostrowskia magnifica. (4.)
flowers, 4 to 6 ins. across, and with
five to nine rounded lobes, appear
about July, and are ivory-white in
colour, washed and veined with lilac-
purple, but some come pure white.
In the centre of the flowers the club-
like stigma is very conspicuous. The
seed-pods are remarkable in appear-
ance: they are top-shaped, with six
to eight stiffish radiating projections
(the dried calyx teeth), 1 to 14 ins.
long.
This magnificent and gigantic Bell-
flower is quite hardy, and flourishes
in any good garden soil that is well
and deeply dug and enriched with a
little manure. It is obvious that
OTHONNA
shallow cultivation is useless to a
plant that has such large tuberous
roots ; therefore trenching 3 ft. deep
will not be too much, if the best
results are desired. Perfect drainage
—a most important item considering
our cold winter rains—is also thus
assured. The simplest way to in-
crease the Ostrowskia is from seed.
These are ripened freely, and should
be sown in cold frames in autumn or
spring. The young plants when
about 6 ins. high are large enough to
place in the open air, but they will
not reach the flowering stage
for three or four seasons.
OTHONNA (othone, linen ;
in reference to the soft
downy clothing of the leaves).
Nat. Ord. Composite, —
There are two or three
tuberous-rooted species in
this genus, the best-known
probably being—
O. tuberosa.—A _ tuberous-
rooted Ragwort from S.
Africa, having broadly oval
stalked leaves, gradually becoming
smaller up the stems. The yellow
flower-heads appear about August at
the ends of the shoots. (Sot. Mag.
t. 4038.)
This species requires the protection
of a greenhouse in winter, although it
may be grown in the open air during
the summer months. It may be
increased by division of the roots, or
by cuttings arising from them.
OXALIS (orys, acid; referring to
the taste of the leaves), Woop -
SorreL. Nat. Ord Geraniaceze.—A
genus containing over two hundred
species, mostly herbaceous plants,
many of which have fleshy, bulb-like,
or tuberous root-stocks, usually three-
lobed clover-like leaves (O. ennea-
phylla has nine to twenty leaflets),
THE BULB BOOK
OXALIS
and regular tubular or bell-shaped
flowers, which are twisted in bud,
and only open well in the sunshine,
closing in the evening. Stamens ten,
five short and five long. Stigmas
usually papillose.
The genus Oxalis is remarkable,
and interesting botanically for having
styles and stamens of three different
lengths—what have been termed
long-styled, short-styled, and mid-
styled forms existing. Darwin called
attention to this feature in his
volume on The Diferent Forms of
Fic. 287.—Oxalis flowers with petals removed, showing long-
styled, mid-styled, and short-styled forms.
lines with arrows show the stamens that should supply
pollen to the stigmas (S) to ensure legitimate fertilisation.
The dotted
Flowers on Plants of the Same Species,
from which the accompanying figure
(Fig. 287) is taken. The dotted lines
with arrows show from which stamens
the pollen should be taken to properly
fertilise the stigmas (S) of other
flowers. Styles and stamens of
different lengths may and do occur
in the various species of Oxalis, but
individual plants of the same species
may have either all long-, short-, or
mid-styled blossoms. This peculiarity
of the genus has been known for over
a century, and numerous examples
are to be found in Nicholas Joseph
Jacquin’s Monograph of the Oxalis,
a quarto volume with eighty-one
plates (mostly coloured), published
at Vienna in 1794.
Very few of the Wood - Sorrels,
tuberous or otherwise, are really
389
OXALIS
hardy, although nearly so. Most of
them, however, are easily grown in a
sunny frame or greenhouse, and when
at rest require no attention beyond
protection from frost. Some kinds,
perhaps more especially the fibrous-
rooted ones, which are not dealt with
in this volume, increase with great
freedom, and often become trouble-
some, as they encroach upon space
required by other plants. In most
cases, it is easy to propagate the
plants either by dividing the tuberous
root-stocks and detaching the offsets,
or by sowing seeds. They are
effective grown as edgings to plant
stages in the greenhouse, or, when
hardy, in nooks in the rock-garden,
or as an edging. Light rich sandy
soil is suitable in most cases. The
following are some of the best tuber-
ous-rooted kinds :—
O. adenophylla.—This species, with
bulb-like root-stocks covered with
matted fibres, resembles O. ennea-
phylla, but is larger in every way,
and the flowers are pink or rose-
purple with a darker zone at the
base (Bot. Mag. t. 8054 ; Gard. Chron.
1906, xl. 14).
This is a very rare species, and one
that seems to be difficult to grow—
possibly because it is coddled too
much, Treated like O. enneaphylla
it would probably flourish.
O. arenaria.— A Chilian species
about 4 ins. high, having scaly
rhizomes forming an ovoid tuber as
large as a hazel nut, and leaves with
three to four deeply heart - shaped
leaflets, and bright violet - purple
flowers over 1 in. across, three to ten
on a stalk, produced in March.
Almost quite hardy. (ot. Mag, t.
6193.)
O. articulata,—A distinct Brazilian
Wood -Sorrel, with bulb-like root-
stocks, grey - green three - foliolate
leaves, and umbels of sweet-scented
THE BULB BOOK
OXALIS
pale lilac fowers in June and July
(Bot. Mag. t. 6748), Greenhouse or
frame,
O. Bowiei.—-A fine bulbous-rooted
perennial from 8. Africa, having the
leaves divided into three bluntly
heart-shaped leaflets, slightly downy
beneath. About a dozen rich rosy-red
flowers, each 1} ins, across, with a
yellowish base, are produced during
July and August. (Lodd. Bot, Cab.
t. 1782; Bot, Reg. t. 1585; Garden,
1890, i. 755.) This species is often
used for bedding-out during the
summer months,
O. brasiliensis.—A fine Brazilian
species, with brilliant crimson-purple
flowers, on stems 6 to 9 ins. high in
May and June (Lodd. Bot, Cab. t.
1962). Frame or greenhouse.
O. cernua.—A South African
species with bulb-like root-stocks,
three-lobed leaves, and umbels of
yellow flowers about 15 ins. across
(Lodd. Pot. Cab. t. 1154). The
variety flore pleno has double flowers.
O. crenata.—A Peruvian plant
with top-like tuberous and _ scaly
Fic. 288.—Ozxalis crenata, bulb.
root-stocks, three-lobed leaves, and
large yellow flowers striped with
purple, the petals being crenulate.
O. Deppei.—A Mexican plant hav-
ing scaly tuberous root-stocks, four-
lobed leaves blotched with purple at
the base of the leaflets, and umbels
having ten to twenty coppery-red
flowers yellowish at the base (Lodd.
Bot. Cab. t. 1500). Frame. The
root-stocks of this plant are cultivated
as an article of diet abroad.
390
OXALIS
O. elegans.—A pretty Peruvian
species about 6 ins. high, with broad
three-lobed leaves, purple or violet
underneath, and large purple flowers
in summer (Jot. Mag. t. 4490).
O. enneaphylla.—A distinct Wood-
Sorrel from the Falkland Islands,
with top-shaped tuberous root-stocks
sometimes 2 ins. long, and leaves
divided into from nine to twenty
grey-green leaflets. The white or
pale rose flowers, nearly 14 ins,
across, appear in June (but often
earlier and later in the year), and
are sometimes faintly veined with
purple. (Lot. Mag. t. 6256.)
This is an excellent plant for moist
and shady nooks in the rock-garden.
It grows well in rich and well-drained
sandy loam.
O. imbricata.—A South African
species with three-lobed velvety
leaves and rosy flowers. The double-
flowered variety (flore pleno) is pretty.
O. incarnatax—A South African
plant about 6 ins. high, with spindle-
shaped root-stocks, and pale rosy
flowers. Quite hardy.
O. lasiopetala,—A native of Buenos
Ayres, with knotted tuberous root-
stocks, and many-flowered clusters
of deep rosy flowers (Lot, Mag.
t. 3932). Frame or greenhouse.
O. lobata.—A_ tuberous - rooted
species from Chili, Leaves grey-
green, and flowers yellow spotted
with red, produced at various times
(Bot. Mag. t. 2386). Hardy.
O. luteola—A South African
species with bulb-like root-stocks and
yellow flowers nearly all the year
round, Hardy.
O. monophylla.— Root-stocks tuber-
ous. Leaves entire lance-shaped and
not divided into leaflets, Flowers
pale purple with a yellowish base,
borne singly on the stems,
O, tetraphylla.—A Mexican species
with top-shaped root-stocks. Leaves
THE BULB BOOK
PRONIA
composed of four leaflets, and clear
violet or lilac-purple flowers, (odd,
fot. Cab. t. 790.) Hardy. 0.
Deppet is closely related, and is
probably only a variety.
O. variabilis——This South African
plant has large bulbous root-stocks,
three-lobed dark green hairy leaves,
and cup-like flowers 2 ins, across,
varying in colour from purple to rosy-
lilac, white, and yellow—hence the
specific name (ot. Reg. t. 1505;
Lot, Mag. t. 1683, as O. grandiflora ;
id, t. 1712, var. rubra), Hardy.
O. violacea.—A North American
species about 3 ins. high, having
blackish, spindle-shaped root-stocks,
three-lobed leaves reddish beneath,
and three to nine pink or rose
flowers on a stem (Bot. Mag. t.
2215). Hardy.
PACHYRHIZUS (pachys, thick;
rhiza, a root). Nat. Ord. Legum-
inose.—The only species of note is
P, angulatus, a native of the West
Indies, with long fleshy tuberous
roots, climbing stems 3 to 6 ft. long,
furnished with three-lobed sharp-
toothed leaves, and bearing spikes
of violet pea-like flowers in July and
August. P. tuberosus, with white
flowers, appears to be a variety.
This plant may be grown in the
open air in summer, but requires the
protection of a greenhouse in winter.
It may be increased by seeds, cuttings,
or division of the root-stocks, In
the West Indies the green seed-pods
and the fleshy roots are eaten by
the natives,
PAZONIA (after Pon, a physician,
who, according to legend, was the
first to employ the plant medicinally),
Pony, Prony, or Prony. Nat. Ord.
Ranunculacee.—A genus consisting
chiefly of herbaceous plants, having
spindle-shaped, Dahlia-like roots,
391
PAONIA
much-divided ornamental leaves, and
large beautiful flowers, which in the
natural single varieties have five
sepals, five to ten petals, and two
to five carpels, seated on a fleshy
disc,
Fic. 289.—Pmony, showing tuberous roots.
stems, and buds. (}.)
With the exception of the woody
or shrubby Tree Peony (P. Moutan),
and perhaps the yellow-flowered
P. lutea, all other kinds of Pzeonies
are herbaceous in character; that is
to say, the flower-stems are not woody
and persistent, but soft or herbaceous,
and die down each winter.
There are several natural species
of Pxonia referred to below, but they
are quite eclipsed by the numerous
gorgeous garden varieties that have
been raised by crossing and inter-
crossing forms of P. albiflora and
P. officinalis, P. peregrina, and P.
tenuifolia, by British and continental
growers. Herbaceous Pzeonies are
excellent plants for the borders, beds,
THE BULB BOOK
PAONTA
shrubberies, rockeries, and are not
only prized for their magnificent
blossoms but also for their foliage,
which early in the year assumes
brilliant coppery-crimson and purple
hues. Some of the commoner
varieties are grown extensively in
the market-gardens round London
beneath the fruit-trees, and the cut
flowers sometimes realise good prices,
Herbaceous Pzeonies are easily grown.
They like a rich and rather heavy
soil that has been deeply dug or
trenched and well enriched with
decayed manure. The ground should
be kept free from weeds by hoeing,
and every autumn a top-dressing of
well-rotted manure will be beneficial.
The best time to plant or trans-
plant herbaceous Pzeonies is in early
autumn—September or October. As
growth takes place early in the year,
that is a bad time to move the plants
unless they are lifted carefully and
with a ball of soil round the roots,
To secure fine clumps, 3 or 4 feet
should separate one plant from
another. Freshly moved plants are
benefited by having any flower-buds
removed the first year. Besides
dividing the roots, Pzonies may also
be increased from seeds, ‘These
should be sown in rich light
soil, and if grown on from year to
year will eventually produce flowers
at the end of five, six, or seven years.
So far as varieties are concerned,
the reader is recommended to consult
current catalogues for the names,
These are always changing with the
development of new forms, and it
would be therefore a needless waste
of space to give a list here. It may,
however, be mentioned that all shades
of colour are to be found amongst
the Pzeonies except blue, Yellow is
practically confined to P. lutea, P.
Wittmanniana, P. macrophylla, P.
Mlokosewitschi, and P. Delavayi, the
392
PHONIA
latter being a woody species like
Moutan and lutea. It is possible,
however, in the course of time that
these varieties will come under the
sway of the ubiquitous hybridist,
and new shades of colour may be
anticipated.
Amongst natural or wild species of
Pzeonia the following may be noted :—
P, albiflora (P. edu/is).—A Siberian
species, 2 to 3 ft. high, with fragrant
white or pinkish flowers in May and
June.
There are numerous varieties,
amongst the best being /fragrans,
sinensis, or Humei, and atarica,
uniflora, vestalis, Whitleyi, etc. (Bot.
Reg. tt. 42, 485, 630; Bot. Mag.
tt. 1768, 1756).
P, anomala (P. Fischerz).—A native
of N. Europe, Siberia, etc, 2 to
3 ft. high, the leaves being cut into
thirty to forty segments. The bright
crimson flowers are about 4 ins,
across. (Bot. Mag. t. 1754.)
P. arietina, from South Europe,
grows 2 to 3 ft. high, and has deep
red flowers about 4 ins, across, the
leaves being downy beneath (Bot.
Reg. t. 819).
P, Bakeri—A_ distinct species
about 2 ft. high, with red flexuose
stems, twice-ternate leaves, and deep
rose flowers over 4 ins, across.
P, Barri.—A species described by
Mr Lynch of Cambridge as having
leaflets about five times as long as
broad, and brilliant red flowers. It
is figured in the Bot. Mag. t. 2664,
and erroneously called P. Russz.
P_ Broteri.—A native of Spain and
Portugal, about 2 ft. high, having
reddish stems, smooth ovate leaflets,
and rosy-red or whitish flowers.
P, Browni.—A rare North American
species, having ternately divided
leaves and dull red flowers, paler on
the margins and about 1 in. across
(Bot. Reg. 1839, t. 30).
THE BULB BOOK
PEONIA
P. Cambessedesi.—A native of the
Balearic Isles and Corsica, with
ternate leaves deeply cut into oblong
acute segments, purple beneath. The
flowers are solitary, deep rosy-pink,
and about 23 ins. across. (Bot. Mag.
t. 8061.)
P. corallina.—A native of South
Europe to Asia Minor, 2 to 3 ft.
high, with red-veined, smooth, deep-
green leaves, and crimson or rose-red
flowers, having six to eight rounded
petals 2 to 3 ins. long.
P. coriacea.—This species, with
large bright crimson flowers, comes
from 8. Spain and N., Africa, and has
somewhat leathery leaves cut into
broadly ovate segments.
P, decora,—A Servian species, with
much-divided leaves and crimson
flowers with six to eight petals. The
variety Palassi has narrow oblong
leaves and purple flowers ; e/atior has
broader leaves, and alba has satin
white flowers flushed with pink.
P. Emodi.—A fine Himalayan
species, 2 to 3 ft. high, with white
flowers 3 to 4 ins. across (Bot. Mag.
t. 5719 ; Garden, 1894, i. 946). This
is best grown in warm sheltered
spots.
P, humilis.—A French and Spanish
species, 1} to 2 ft. high, with finely
divided leaves and bright red flowers
(Bot. Mag. t. 1422). P. microcarpa
is closely related.
P. macrophylla.—A rare Caucasian
species of the corallina group, and
closly related to P. Wittmanniana.
It has large, biternate, shining, green
leaves and very large yellowish-white
flowers.
P. Mlokosewitschi—A Caucasian
Peony of vigorous habit, having
biternate leaves cut into broadly
oblong segments with reddish veins
and edges. The flowers are yellow,
4 to 5 ins. across, with deeper yellow
stamens and purple stigmas. (Bot.
393
PZONTA
Mag. t. 8173; Gard. Chron. 1908
xliv. 70, f.)
P. mollis.—This grows about 1 ft.
high, and has hairy stems and leaves
and purple red flowers (Lot. Reg.
t. 474).
P. officinalis.—This is the Pony
most commonly met with in gardens.
It is a native of S. Europe, and grows
2 to 3 ft. high, the smooth deep-
green leaves being cut into numerous
lance-shaped segments. The flowers
are usually red or crimson, but in
many cases shade away to white with
age. (Bot. Mag. t. 1784.)
There are numerous varieties such
as purpurea (also known = as
Julgens and splendens), incarnata,
alba, and one called anemoneflora
plena, in which the centre petals are
united and elevated into a tuft.
P. paradoxa.—aA native of Central
and §. Europe, 1 to 13 ft. high,
with dense tufts of red-edged leaves
and purple-red flowers.
P. peregrina,—A well-known South
European plant, 13 to 2 ft. high,
having dull green leaves smooth
above, hairy beneath, and bright
crimson flowers with five to ten
petals (Bot. Mag. t. 1050). P. pubens
is a hairy-stemmed variety (Lot. Mag.
t. 2664).
P. Russi._-A native of N. Africa,
Corsica, ete., 1 to 14 ft. high, with
thinnish leaves and bright crimson
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 3431).
P, tenuifolia—A very distinct
Pzony from §.E. Europe, 1 to 14 ft.
high, with creeping root-stocks, and
leaves cut into narrow thread-like
segments. The flowers are deep
crimson, with golden stamens in the
centre. (Bot. Mag. t. 226.) There
are several handsome double-fiowered
forms.
P. triternata.—Native of S.E.
Europe and Asia Minor, 14 to 2 ft.
high, with smooth leaves pale green
?
THE BULB BOOK
s
PANCRATIUM
above, grey beneath, and rose-red
flowers (Lot. Mag. t. 1441).
P. Veitchi—A Chinese species,
closely related to P. anomala, but
has branching stems with several
purplish-crimson flowers borne on
slightly drooping or arching stems,
The plant emits a peculiar odour.
P. Wittmanniana—A distinct
species from the Caucasus and Persia,
about 2 ft. high, having twice-ternate
leaves, downy beneath, and pale
yellow flowers borne on short stalks
(Bot. May. t. 6645; Garden, 1890,
ii. 201).
PANCRATIUM (pan, all; kratys,
powerful; in reference to the
supposed medicinal virtues). Nat.
Ord. Amaryllidez.—A genus contain-
ing about a dozen species of bulbous
plants with tufts of ornamental
strap - like leaves, and umbels of
funnel - shaped flowers, remarkable
for having a central cup - shaped
corona something like in the Narcissi,
but formed from the dilated bases
of the stamen filaments.
The Pancratiums are very closely
related to the Hymenocallis, and
have been much confused with them.
With the exception of P. illyricum
and P. maritimum (which are practi-
cally hardy south of the Thames),
most of the Pancratiums require
stove or at least warm greenhouse
treatment. They flourish in a
compost of sandy loam, fibrous peat,
or leaf-mould, and well-rotted cow-
manure in about equal proportions,
and may be grown in pots, pans, or
tubs, or planted in borders in the
stove or greenhouse. During growth
plenty of moisture is necessary, and
the night temperature should not
fall below 60° to 65° F. Propagation
is chiefly managed by detaching the
offsets and growing them on.
Except where otherwise noted, the
394
PANCRATIUM THE BULB BOOK PANCRATIUM
flowers of the species mentioned
below are all white.
P. canariense,— Bulbs round, 2 ins.
through, leaves 14 to 2 ft. long, 1 to
13 ins. broad, grey-green. Flower-
stalk 1} to 2 ft. high, with six to ten
flowers in an umbel. (Bot. Reg. t.
174.)
P. guianense.— This plant is now
referred to Hymenocallis tubifora—
which see,
Fic. 291.—Pancratium illyricum. (3.)
Fic. 290.—Pancratium quianense. (1.)
P. illyricum.—A native of S.
Europe, with large pear - shaped
tapering bulbs, grey-green leaves, and
six to twelve sweet-scented flowers in
an umbel in June, on a stem 1 to 2 ft.
high (Red. Lil. t. 153; Bot, Mag. t.
718).
This handsome plant flourishes in
warm sheltered spots in the open
air. It should be grown in bold
masses to be effective in June.
P. maritimum.—}
_ - = + \ A
——_>~ , 4 Ss \V Vy
——_ SS . = WE
= =e Z NY
= 7»
Pens E tt
_—_—————_—____
Fic. 298.—Richardia Adlamt. (4.)
and large creamy-yellow spathes with
a deep purple blotch at the base. It
flowers during the summer months.
R, africana (2. ethiopica; Calla
cethiopica).—This is commonly known
as the Arum Lily, the Trumpet Lily,
and the Lily of the Nile. It is a
native of 8. Africa, and grows from 2
to 3 ft. high, having tuberous root-
stocks, large green sagittate leaves,
and beautiful white trumpets or
spathes enclosing a cylindrical yellow
405
RICHARDIA THE BULB BOOK RICHARDIA
Fic. 299.—Richardia africana, tuber. (2.)
}
;
oe Ai
LAG nat
=
== — = ae NS oe
—
Fic. 800.—Richardia africana. (y4-)
spadix in the centre. The plants
may be had in flower at almost any
period of the year according as they
are grown in warm or cool surround-
ings. (Bot. Mag. t. 832; Garden,
1888, i. 654.)
There are variations from the type,
but the most distinct form is that
known as “Little Gem,” which is
about half the size of the ordinary
variety in foliage and flowers, and
“‘Childsi,” another dwarf but very
free-flowering form (Gard. Chron.
1903, xxxli. 173, 188, 195). The
variety Vicolai is a remarkably strong
grower, with scapes 43 to 5 ft. high,
and spathes 1 ft. or more across
(Gartenfl. 1903, 201).
When Arum Lilies have finished
their growth for the season, they
should be allowed to die down gradu-
ally, giving but little water. Many
growers plant them out during the
summer months, and lift and repot
them again about September. Others
leave them to dry off in the pots,
these being placed on their sides and
stacked up on each other, facing
south. When growth recommences,
the tubers are shaken out of the old
soil, and repotted into fresh rich
loam.
R, albo-maculata.—A species about
2 ft. high, having rather narrow
arrow-headed pointed leaves decor-
ated with white oblique and trans-
lucent stripes. The flowers are like
those of R. africana, but smaller,
and tinged with green, (Sot, Mag.
t, 5140; Ft. d, Serr. t. 2258;
Gartenjl. t.462.) This species crossed
with . Elliottiana has produced a
hybrid called 2. x Lathamiana (Gard.
1903, Ixiii. 419 ; lxiv. 2); and crossed
with R&. Elliottiana Rossi has _pro-
duced a hybrid known as &, x
leucoxantha,
R, aurata, with spotted leaves and
large yellow spathes, is considered to
406
RICHARDIA
be a hybrid between FR. hastata and
R. albo-maculata, Crossed with R.
Elliottiana it has produced a hybrid
called R. Taylori (Gard. Chron. 1904,
XXxXv. 226).
R. cantabrigiensis—A hybrid
between FR. Rehmannt and AR.
melanoleuca, showing a deeper pink
spathe than in R. Rehmanni—the
seed-bearing parent.
R. Elliottiana.—A splendid species
about 2 ft. high, having dark green
leaves heavily blotched with white,
=<
Fic. 301.—Richardia Elliottiana, 1-year-old
seedling. (4.)
and pure yellow spathes of good
size, but not so large generally as
those of R. africana (Garden, 1894,
ii. 989). Easily raised from seeds
and by offsets. The seeds should be
sown as soon as ripe in summer in
rich sandy soil, and kept warm and
moist. They germinate freely, and
if not sown too thickly (about a
couple of inches apart) the young
plants may be left in the seed-pan
THE BULB BOOK
RICHARDIA
for about a year. They will then be
fine and sturdy, and if potted up
We
Fic. 302.—Richardia Elliottiana. (}.)
Fic, 303.—Richardia Elliottiana,
twin spathes. (}.)
singly into pots and grown on they
will make fine flowering-plants the
third year from seed. Like R&,
407
RICHARDIA
africana, this species frequently
throws double spathes, as shown in
the sketch. There is a stocky variety
known as Aossi, and another called
“ Mrs Roosevelt,” having pale lemon-
yellow spathes,
R. hastata.—This species grows
about 2 ft. high, and has oval
hastate pointed leaves, green and
unspotted. The spathes are of a
greenish-yellow and of good size.
(Bot. Mag. t. 5176.)
R. intermedia.—A strong-growing,
compact, and free-flowering plant
with broadly heart-shaped leaves dot-
ted with white, and stalks marbled
white and rose. Spathe very dark
yellow, with small black blotch at
base.
R. Lutwychei.—A species closely
related to FR. hastata and FR, Pent-
landi, having triangular, sagittate,
pointed, green unspotted leaves with
heavily spotted stalks. The spathes
are bright yellow with a large deep
purple blotch at the base. Now
considered to be identical with
Rk. hastata. (Rev. Hort. 1896, t.
60; Gard. Chron. 1893, xiii. 568.)
R. macrocarpa.—This is recognised
by its very large fruits and medium-
sized spathes, pale green outside,
white within.
R. melanoleuca,—This species
grows about 2 ft. high, and has
oblong or oval sagittate-hastate leaves
covered with white translucent
blotches. The spathes are yellow,
enclosing a white spadix and having
a purple blotch at the base. (Sot,
Mag. t. 5765.)
R. Pentlandi,—A fine species in
the way of A. Liliottiana, but with
larger, thicker, and unspotted green
leaves, and large bright golden-
yellow flowers (ot. Mag. t. 7397;
Garden, 1895, il, 1033).
R, Rehmanni,—A little-known but
distinct species, having lance-shaped
THE BULB BOOK
RIGIDELLA
leaves, and rather small tubular
spathes tinted with dull rose-purple
(Bot. Mag. t. 7436). The variety
speciosa is dwarfer and stronger-
growing than the type, and the
spathe is bright red ; in the variety
spathe is
coccinea the scarlet
Fic. 304.—Richardia Rehmanni. (}.)
(Gartenfl. 1906, t. 1552). This species
crossed with FR. melanoleuca has
produced a hybrid known as A,
cantabrigiensis,
R. Sprengeri.—This species from
the Transvaal is remarkable in having
leaves truncated (not hastate or
cordate) at the base, and the yellow
spathes are broader than in other
species (Gard. Chron. 1902, xxxii.
350),
RIGIDELLA (rigidus, stiff; in
reference to the flower-stalk), Nat,
Ord. Iridew.—A genus containing
only a few species of half-hardy
bulbous plants, closely related to the
408
ROMULEA
Tigridias, They may be grown in
a greenhouse or in the open air in
the milder parts of the Kingdom,
but must be protected from frost.
They like a compost of rich sandy
loam and peat, and may be increased
by offsets in spring; and also by
seeds sown when ripe, or in spring
in gentle heat. The following species
are worth notice :—
R, flammea.—A Mexican plant 3
to 5 ft. high, with broad equitant
strongly plaited leaves, dilated and
sheathing at the base, and 18 to 24
ins. long. The drooping flowers are
borne in dense umbels and appear
about May and June, and are of a
bright red, the outer segments being
distinctly striped with deep purple
at the base. (ot. Reg. 1840, t. 16;
Paxt. Mag. Bot, vii. 247.)
The variety orthantha (once re-
garded as a distinct species) grows
about 2 ft. high, and has bright
scarlet flowers having a triangular
blotch at the base of each perianth
segment (/7, d. Serr. t. 46).
R, immaculata,—This Guatemalan
species is close to R. flammea, from
which, however, it differs in being
only about 2 ft. high, having a more
slender habit, and in the scarlet
flowers being unspotted and having
a wash of yellow on the inner seg-
ments (Lot. Reg. 1841, t. 1; LU.
d. Serr, tt. 502, 2215).
ROMULEA (after Romalus, the
reputed founder of Rome). Nat.
Ord. Iridee.—This genus contains
over thirty species of plants with
tunicated corms, bristle-like leaves,
and solitary flowers having a regular
six-parted perianth.
About a dozen species are natives
of the Mediterranean region, the
others being found in Southern and
Tropical Africa. As garden plants
they are little known, and are con-
THE BULB BOOK
ROSCOKA
fined almost entirely to botanical
collections. Most of the species are
tender and require the protection of
a greenhouse or cold frame. The
cultural requirements are the same
as for their relatives the Ix1as—
which see.
The following kinds (at one time
mostly known under the generic
name of TRICHONEMA) may be
mentioned as worthy of note :—
R. bulbocodioides, flowers bright
yellow tinged with green outside
(Bot. Mag. t. 1392); R. Bulbocodium,
flowers lilac with a yellow throat
(Bot. Mag. t. 265); FR. citrina, yellow,
unstriped; &. Columne, pale lilac
with deeper lilac veins, tinged outside
with green; R. rosea, reddish - lilac
with a yellow throat, faintly striped
purple outside (Bot. Mag. t. 1225).
The variety pudica has a_ white
throat (Bot. Mag. t. 1244); and
speciosa has larger flowers with outer
segments distinctly striped with black
(Bot. Mag. t. 1476).
R. Macowani, one of the finest
species, with funnel-shaped flowers,
bright yellow at the base, unstriped,
but tinged with green outside (Gard.
Chron. 1887, i. 180, f.).
ROSCOEA (after Wm. Roscoe, the
founder of the Liverpool Botanic
Gardens). Nat. Ord. Scitamineze.—
This genus contains about half a
dozen species of ornamental-leaved
herbaceous plants with thick fleshy
roots, and terminal spikes or clusters
of purple, blue, or yellow flowers,
having an elongated tubular calyx
and corolla, the latter having an
erect incurved and concave upper
segment and spreading side seg-
ments,
R. gracilis, with yellow flowers, is
now known as Cautleya lutea (Lot.
Mag. t. 6991).
R, purpurea,—This is the best-
409
SAGITTARIA
known species. It comes from the
Himalayas, and has clusters of
spindle-shaped tuberous roots, from
which arise leafy striated stems less
than a foot high, the leaves being
stalkless, lance-shaped, wavy and
pointed, and 6 to 8 ins. long, while
the flowers are pale purple or lilac
(Bot. Mag. t. 4630; Bot. Reg. 1840,
t. 61). The variety sikkimensis is
a mere colour variety.
Fic. 305.—Roscoéa purpurea. (}.)
This species flourishes in a compost
of rich fibrous loam and well-decayed
manure or leaf-soil. It appears to be
perfectly hardy in the milder parts of
the Kingdom, and is easily increased
by division of the root-stocks in
spring.
SAGITTARIA (sayitta, an arrow;
in allusion to the characteristic shape
of the leaves), ARROWHEAD. Nat,
Ord. Alismacez.—-A genus of orna-
mental aquatic or marsh plants,
some of which have tuberous or
stolon-bearing root-stocks,
THE BULB BOOK
SAGITTARIA
S. montevidensis is a beautiful
aquatic from Buenos Ayres. It has
large fleshy, tuberous root-stocks,
emitting stolons from which other
tubers arise, somewhat in the same
way as potatoes. The large sagittate
leaves have stalks 3 to 6 ft. long,
and the pure white flowers with a
crimson blotch at the base of the
three segments are borne in whorls
on stems 3 to 5 ft. high during the
Fic. 306.—Sagittaria montevidensis.
summer months. (Bot. Mag. t.
6755.)
This majestic plant is best grown
in a warm greenhouse in rich muddy
soil, and the leaves should be
syringed frequently to keep them
bright and clean. Easily increased
by division of the root-stocks.
8S. sagittefolia.— A beautiful
British and European aquatic, with
stolons which produce tubers about
the size of an olive. The bright
green arrow-shaped leaves have three-
sided stalks 1 to 14 ft. long, and the
white flowers with purple claws are
410
SALVIA
borne from July to September in
distant whorls, on scapes 1 to 2 ft.
high.
The double-fiowered variety, some-
times known as japonica flore pleno,
is a handsome plant with roundish
heads of white flowers.
This species and its variety are
quite hardy,and may be grown on the
margins of lakes, streams, ponds, etc.,
where they will be more or less
submerged. The double-flowered
variety can only be propagated by
division. The single-flowered kinds
in the same way, and also by seeds.
S. sinensis (S. gigantea ; S. lanci-
folia), from China, is a _ beautiful
plant about 3 to 5 ft. high, with lance-
shaped leaves and white flowers,
having the greenish outer segments
flushed with rose (Lot. Mag. t. 1631).
May be grown like S. sagittefolva,
SALVIA (salvo, to save ; inallusion
to the medicinal virtues), SacGE.
Nat. Ord. Labiatez.—A large genus
containing some 450 species, many
ornamental and easily grown. The
only tuberous-rooted species worthy
of note is—
S. patens (S. spectabilis; S. mac-
rantha).—A beautiful hairy Mexican
perennial, about 23 ft. high, having
ovate-triangular leaves with rounded
teeth and lobed at the base. The
deep blue flowers, over 2 ins. long, are
borne in whorls on erect spikes
during the summer and autumn
months. (Bot. Mag. t. 3808.)
This species may be grown in the
open air during the summer months,
and in the milder parts of the
Kingdom may be left in the open
ground so long as the blackish
spindle-shaped roots are protected
from frost in the same way as
Dahlias. It may be increased from
seeds sown in gentle heat in spring ;
from cuttings in the same way as
THE BULB BOOK
SANGUINARIA
Dahlias ; and also by division of the
root-stocks.
SANDERSONIA (after J. Sander-
son, a secretary of the Natal Horti-
cultural Society). Nat. Ord. Liliacee.
The only species is—
S. aurantiaca, a native of Natal,
having a tuberous root-stock from
which arise climbing herbaceous
stems 3 to 6 ft long, furnished with
alternate, stalkless, lance-shaped
leaves. The bell-shaped or inflated
flowers, with six shallow lobes, are
of a beautiful orange colour, droop-
ing from the axils of the leaves in
July and August. (Bot. Mag. t.
4716.)
This pretty plant is best grown in
@ warm greenhouse in a compost of
rich sandy loam with a little leaf-
soil or well-decayed manure, and
may be trained up pillars, or on
trellises in the same way as the
Gloriosas or Littonias, to which it
is closely related. In autumn the
stems die down, after which the root-
stocks should be kept dry until the
following spring. In the milder
parts of the Kingdom this plant
may be grown in the open air, the
roots being taken up and stored for
the winter.
SANGUINARIA (sanyguis, blood ;
in reference to the red juice). Nat.
Ord. Papaveracee.—The only species
is—
S. canadensis, popularly known
as the “Blood Root” or “Red
Puccoon.” It is a native of N.
America, and grows 3 to 6 ins. high,
having a thickish creeping root-
stock and solitary, rounded, palm-
ately veined leaves with dentate
margins. The beautiful white
flowers appear in April and May,
and consist of two sepals and eight
to twelve petals arranged in two or
411
SAUROMATUM
three circles. (Bot. Mag. t. 162.)
The variety grandiflora has larger
flowers,
The Blood Root flourishes in a
moist loamy soil in somewhat shaded
places in the rock-garden or border,
and may be increased by division
of the root-stocks in early autumn
or spring. Seeds may also be sown
in pots or pans when fully ripe, or
in spring in a cold frame, and should
be left for a year before transplant-
ing, as the roots are so brittle.
SAUROMATUM (saura, a lizard ;
in allusion to the speckled interior
of the spathe). Nat. Ord. Aroideze.—
A genus containing about half a dozen
species of herbaceous perennials
having tuberous root-stocks, solitary,
deeply divided leaves with long
stalks, and somewhat evanescent
spathes in the centre of which is the
spadix bearing the male and female
flowers,
THE BULB BOOK
SAUROMATUM
The species mentioned below
flourish in a warm greenhouse in a
compost of light rich sandy loam and
peat or leaf-soil, and like plenty of
moisture when in growth. They
may be increased by offsets from the
older tubers.
S. guttatum (Arum venosum).—
A Himalayan species about 2 ft. high
Fic. 308.—Sawromatum guttatum,
sprouting tuber. (4.)
Fa. 309.—Sauwromatwm guttatum. (}.)
with round flattish tubers, and leaves
deeply divided into pointed oblong
lance-shaped segments, The greenish
spathes, washed with yellow inside
412
SAXIFRAGA
and irregularly blotched with deep
purple, appear about May and June,
(Bot. Mag. t. 1017.)
This is the plant to which the
name “Monarch of the East” has
been applied. The tubers, instead of
being grown in a greenhouse as
recommended, are often placed in
fancy bowls, or even on the mantel-
shelf, without any water whatever.
If the temperature is high enough,
65° to 70° F. growth commences, and
the nourishment stored up in the
tuber is sufficient to produce the
flower - spathes without further
attention.
Other species are S. brevipes, from
the Sikkim Himalayas, with purple-
tinted spathes (Gard. Chron. 1903,
xxxiv. 93; Bot. Mag. t. 7940); 8.
pedatum, with dark purple and
yellowish spathes (Gartenjl. t. 495) ;
S. punctatum, green and purple ; and
S. nervosum, purple and yellow (Bot.
Mag. t. 4465).
SAXIFRAGA (sarum, a_ stone;
Ffrangere, to break; in reference to
the roots entering the crevices of
rocks which are thus split). Nat. Ord.
Saxifragacee.—Out of some 160
species, perhaps the only ones to
mention in this work are—
S. granulata fl. pl. is a charming
Saxifrage 6 to 12 ins. high, with
beautiful white double flowers in
April and May. It has small white
bulb-like bodies forming at the base
of the stems. The single-flowered
species is a native of Britain, and is
popularly known as “Fair Maids of
France,” “First of May,” and the
“Meadow Saxifrage.”
S. peltata, popularly known as the
“Umbrella Plant.” It is found wild
on the borders of lakes and streams
in California, and has a large fleshy
creeping root-stock, from which arise
roundish shield - like lobed leaves
THE BULB BOOK
SCILLA
12 to 18 ins. across, and borne on
downy stalks 1 to 2 ft long, the
lobes being cut and sharply toothed.
The white or pale pink flowers appear
in April and May. (Bot, Mag. t.
6074; Fl. d. Serr. t. 2441; Gartenfi.
t. 735.)
This is by far the largest and
most noble looking of the Saxifrages.
It is quite hardy, and will flourish
in good soil near the edges of ponds
or streams, etc., and also in moist
parts of the flower-border. The
circular leaves, being deeply depressed
in the centre where the stalk beneath
joins the blade, hold a good deal of
water after rain, and in the autumn
they assume attractive tints of red
and brown. This Saxifrage may be
increased by seeds and division of
the root-stocks,
SCHIZOSTYLIS (schizo, to cut;
stylos, a column or style ; in reference
to the divided thread-like styles),
Nat. Ord. Iridez.—The best-known
species is—
S. coccinea, a handsome §. African
plant, 2 to 3 ft. high, with fleshy
and slightly swollen root - stocks,
sheathing sword - like leaves, and
spikes of crimson-scarlet flowers from
September to December, each about
2 ins. across (Lot, Mag. t. 5422),
This pretty plant flourishes in rich,
moist loam, peat, leaf-mould, and
silver sand in about equal proportions.
It is not hardy, except in the very
mildest parts of the Kingdom, and
even then it must be protected from
frost. Grown in pots or pans in the
greenhouse, it is very effective during
the later months of the year. The
stock is best increased by dividing
the leek-like tufts, and the stolons
which arise from their bases. Fig. 310.
SCILLA (skilla, squilla, a squill),
SQuILL, BLUEBELL. Nat.Ord. Liliacex,
413
SCILLA
—A large genus of herbaceous plants,
with tunicated bulbs, more or less
strap-shaped leaves, and six-petalled
flowers borne on simple leafless
scapes.
Fic. 810.—Schizostylis coccinea. (4.)
Most of the Scillas are perfectly
hardy, but there are several which
require the protection of a cold frame
or greenhouse. All kinds are easily
grown in rich sandy soil, or in any
good garden mould, the hardy ones
being particularly valuable for plant-
ing in thousands in the grass, or
beneath deciduous and early-flowering
trees and shrubs, or on the margins
of borders, or nooks in the rock-
garden ; and in all these places may
THE BULB BOOK
SCILLA
be associated with their close
relatives the Chionodoxas. The best
time for planting is usually at the
end of September and during October,
and as most of the species flower
from February and March till May
and June, they may be looked upon
as excellent spring-flowering plants.
When grown in pots or pans, the
Scillas are useful for the decoration
of the cool greenhouse early in the
year, the blossoms being much
cleaner and brighter looking than
those that are tarnished by exposure
to the weather. All Scillas are
readily increased by offsets from
the older bulbs.
The following are some of the
best species, the tender ones being
indicated, all others being hardy :—
S. Adlami.—A native of Natal, with
small mauve-purple flowers (Gard.
Chron. 1891, 1x. 521).
S. ameena (/Hyacinthus stellaris),—
This pretty species, known as the
“Star Hyacinth,’ is a native of
Central Europe, and has roundish
violet - coated bulbs, lance - shaped
channelled leaves 6 to 9 ins. long,
and racemes of bright indigo starry
flowers, borne from March to May
on stems 4 to 6 ins, high (Bot, Mag.
t. 341).
S. autumnalis, a British and
European species, with rosy - lilac
starry flowers produced in August.
The white-flowered variety albus is
a somewhat choicer garden plant.
S. axillaris—A strong - growing
species with leaves a foot long and 23
ins. broad, spotted with brownish-
purple near the base beneath. Flowers
whitish outside, with a green keel and
bright violet edges with white inside.
(Gard, Chron. 1903, xxxili. 386.)
S. Bertholeti,—A rare species from
Tropical Africa, with strap - shaped
leaves 6 to 12 ins. long, and _ bell-
shaped pale lilac flowers, from ten
414
SCILLA
to twelve in a truss (Bot. Mag. t.
5308). Greenhouse.
S. bifolia—A Central European
species, with narrow lance - shaped
leaves 4 to 8 ins. long, and deep blue
somewhat starry or bell - shaped
flowers in February and March (Sot.
Mag. t. 746).
There is a white-flowered variety
(alba); a rose-coloured one with a
tint of violet (rosea); splendens has
intense cobalt - blue flowers; and
taurica, of a rich violet colour, from
the mountains of Asia Minor. One
of the earliest - flowering forms is
ruberrima, the flowers of which are
much brighter in bud than those of
the type; they also open reddish
rather than blue (Gard. Chron. 1906,
Xxxix. 165):
S. Buchanani,— A species from
Nyassaland, with small bulbs, lance-
shaped green leaves a foot long, and a
flexuose scape 8 ins. high, bearing a
dense raceme of green flowers with
purple filaments (Gard. Chron. 1893,
xili. 568). Must be grown in a
greenhouse.
S. chinensis (Parnardia scilloides).
—A pretty but little-known Chinese
Squill about 9 ins. high, with spikes
of rosy-pink flowers produced from
June to August (Bot. Reg. t. 1029;
Bot. Mag. t. 3788). This species
should be grown in a frame or
greenhouse, or in a warm sheltered
spot if in the open air,
S. cilicica,— This is like S. s¢birica,
but has longer and broader leaves,
and the flowers are more intensely
blue, but smaller (Gard, Chron. 1908,
xliv. 194, f.), S. Hohenbackeri seems
to be intermediate between this and
S. subirica,
S. concinna.— A South African
species with narrow leaves 8 to 12
ins. long, heavily spotted with purple
behind. The flowers are oblong,
bell - shaped, rosy - purple, produced
THE BULB BOOK
SCILLA
in spring twenty to thirty on a scape.
(Bot. Reg. t. 235). Greenhouse or
frame.
S. Cooperi.— Another §. African
Squill, with leaves 9 to 12 ins, long,
striped and spotted with purple.
The drooping bell-shaped bright
purple flowers appear in spring, thirty
to fifty in a truss (Bot, Mag. t. 5580).
Greenhouse or frame,
S. Cupani.—A hardy Sicilian plant,
with strap-shaped leaves 3 to 4 ins.
long, finely ciliated on the edges.
The blue flowers are borne in loose
racemes in May and June. (Sot.
Reg. t. 1878.)
S. festalis (S. nutans ; Hyacinthus
non-scriptus).—This is the Common
Fic. 311.—Scilla festalis. (4.)
Bluebell or Wild Hyacinth of British
woods and copses. It has whitish
pear-shaped bulbs, deep shining green
leaves 9 to 18 ins. long, and racemes
415
SCILLA
of drooping bell-shaped blossoms from
April to June, and varying in colour
from bluish-purple to white or pink.
There are several varieties of the
Common Bluebell, such as alba,
white ; rosea, rose-red; rubra, deep
red; bracteata, with long bracts
at base of pedicels ; and cernua, with
broader leaves and larger bright blue
flowers.
The Bluebell is an excellent plant
for naturalising purposes, and the
bulbs should be planted from 4 to 6
ins. deep early in autumn, and in
thousands for this purpose.
S. hispanica (S. campanulata).—
This is the beautiful!Spanish Bluebell
Fic. 312.—Scilia hispanica.
(3.)
from the Iberian Peninsula, having
narrow strap-shaped leaves, and
blue bell - shaped flowers, borne in
May on slender scapes 12 to 18 ins,
high (Bot. Mag. t. 127).
There are several varieties, such as
alba, with beautiful white flowers,
and one of the best; aperta, blue
THE BULB BOOK
SCILLA
striped with white ; and others such as
Blue Queen, porcelain blue ; Excelsior,
azure blue; caerulea major, pale
blue, late flowering ; Rosalind, pink ;
rosea major, rose pink, large;
Riverslea, pale blue, early ; Sky Blue,
tall, self-blue, late ; etc.
S. hyacinthoides.—A pretty Squill
from 8.W. Europe, with leaves 12 to
18 ins. long, minutely ciliated on the
margins. The scapes are 1 to 2 ft.
high, and in April and May bear
from fifty to one hundred bluish-lilac
or gentian-blue, bell-shaped flowers.
(Bot. Mag. t. 1140.)
S. italica.— A charming Italian
bluebell with flaccid, strap - shaped
leaves 4 to 8 ins. long, and dense
racemes of blue flowers in April and
May (Bot. Mug. t. 663).
The variety purpurea has deeper
coloured flowers.
S. lanceefolia (Lachenalia lancee-
folia)—A §. African species, with
leaves 4 to 6 ins. long, spotted on
the upper surface. The roundish
bell-shaped flowers, purple inside and
greenish outside, are borne in dense
clusters about April and May (Bot.
Mag. t. 643). Greenhouse.
S. laxifiora.—A §. African species
with lance-shaped leaves, and green
flowers with purple filaments (Gard.
Chron. 1891, ix. 668).
S. leucophylla.—A very distinct
species from Persia, having bright
purple flowers tipped with green
(Gard. Chron. 1893, xiii. 506).
S. lilio-hyacinthus.— This fine
Pyrenean Squill has been known for
generations, but it is still rare in
gardens. It is easily recognised by
its rather large scaly bulbs, broad
bright green leaves, and its blue
starry flowers appearing in April
and May on stems about a foot high.
There is a still scarcer white-flowered
variety, albus,
S. messeniaca, from Greece, has
416
SCILLA
leaves 4 to 9 ins. long, $ to 1 in.
broad, and dense racemes of small
blue flowers with spreading segments
(Bot. Maz. t. 8035).
S. monophylla (S. pumila), — A
pretty Spanish Bluebell, having soli-
tary leaves 6 to 9 ins. long, and blue
or violet flowers in April and May,
borne in rather loose clusters (Lot.
Mag. t. 3023).
S. natalensis.—A rare species from
Natal, having strap-shaped lanceolate
leaves 8 to 12 ins. long, and spreading
conical trusses of pale yellow or
creamy flowers in April (ot. Mag. t.
5379; Fl. d. Serr. t. 1043). Green-
house.
S. peruviana, the Cusan Lity.—
A native of the Mediterranean region,
and not of Cuba or Peru as might be
imagined from the names. It has
large whitish pear-shaped bulbs, and
rosettes of strap-shaped leaves 6 to 12
ins. long, fringed with white hairs.
The beautiful blue starry flowers are
borne in May and June, in dense,
broadly conical clusters often 6 ins.
across. (Bot. Mag. t. 749.)
The variety 7/abra has lilac flowers
and leaves without hairy margins ;
and a@/ba has white flowers.
The bulbs of this species should be
planted from 4 to 6 ins. deep in
warm and sheltered spots. In severe
winters they should be protected with
some litter or bracken.
S. pratensis.—A Dalmatian species
with narrow leaves 6 to 12 ins, long,
and clusters of blue bell-shaped
flowers in April and May (Lot. Reg.
1839, t. 63).
S. puschkinioides.—A pretty little
Squill from Turkestan, having narrow
leaves and trusses of erect starry pale
blue flowers in April and May
(Garten. 1051, f. 1).
S. sibiriea (S. ameena sibirica; S.
ameenula),—A well-known and popu-
THE BULB BOOK
SCILLA
bulbs, lance-shaped channelled leaves
4 to 6 ins. long, and loose racemes of
drooping starry bell-shaped flowers,
varying from light porcelain blue to
deep blue, with a deeper coloured
central line (Bot. Mag. tt. 1025, 2408).
Fic. 313.—Scilla stbirica. (3.)
There are a few varieties of which
alba is pure white and charming ;
amenula is dwarfer than the type,
and produces its brighter blue flowers
earlier in the year ; the variety multi-
flora has more flowers than in the
type ; and /:/acina has lavender-tinted
blossoms.
The Siberian Squill flowers as early
as February, and is particularly valu-
able for planting beneath early-
flowering deciduous trees and shrubs ;
as well as for the rockery and flower-
border or greenhouse decoration.
S. socialis. A very rare species
from Natal, flowering about Novem-
ber in a state of cultivation.
S. villosa,—A rare Moroccan species,
lar Siberian Squill, having ovoid with leaves 3 to 6 ins. long, ciliated
417 2D
SINNINGIA
on the edges, and sparsely hairy on
the under-surface. The blue starry
flowers appear in corymb - like
clusters in spring (Lot, Mag. t. 3211).
SINNINGIA (after Wm. Sinning,
gardener at the University of Bonn).
Nat, Ord. Gesneracere.—This genus
has already been referred to as hav-
ing been confused with the genus
Groxinta, Although closely related,
the two genera are kept distinct
botanically, The Sinningiats proper
are all natives of Brazil, and are
herbaceous plants with tuberous root-
stocks, large opposite long-stalked,
softly hairy leaves, and flowers borne
singly or in clusters from the leaf-
axils, The corolla is tubular, bell-
shaped, inflated at the base, and
obliquely five-lobed.
There are about sixteen species
altogether, requiring precisely the
same cultural treatment as described
for the Gloxinias at p. 257. Among
the best-known kinds are :—
S. Caroline (Japeinotes Caroline).
—With oblong lance - shaped leaves
and white Howers marked inside with
red (Lot. Mag. t. 5623).
S. concinna (Stenogastra concinna).
—A charming little species, having
small tubers and roundish oval deeply
crenulate leaves, and drooping tubular
inflated flowers purplish above, yellow
beneath, and spotted with purple
within (Bot. Mag. t. 5253).
S. Helleri (S. velutina).—A species
with oval oblong velvety leaves 4 to 6
ins. long, and white flowers having
red spots on a greenish throat (Lot.
Mag. 4212; Bot. Reg. t. 997).
S. hirsuta (Gloxinia hirsuta).—
This species has broadly oval heart-
shaped leaves, deeply crenated on
the margins and purplish beneath.
Corolla bluish - lilac, spotted with
purple within. (ot, Mag. t. 2690;
Bot, Reg. t. 1004.)
THE BULB BOOK
SISYRINCHIUM
S. speciosa,—The typical species
has already been described and com-
mented upon under GLOXINIA at
p. 257. It has been figured in the
Bot. Mag. t. 1937; Bot, Reg. iii. t.
213; xxx. t. 48; and its variety
albiflora, with white flowers, in Lot.
Mag. t. 3206; the variety cazwlescens,
with large leaves, in Bot. Reg. t. 1127 ;
and the large-leaved variety macro-
phylla, with white veins, in the Lot.
Mag. t. 3934; in both publications
as Gloxinia, Under this name the
innumerable garden forms are still
known, and probably will continue to
be so for several generations.
The variety Jenziesiana has a
large calyx with long hairy segments,
and a large violet corolla heavily
spotted with red (Bot. May. t.
3943).
S. velutina has oval roundish
crenulate leaves with purplish veins ;
funnel- or bell-shaped corolla, and
pale greenish flowers (Lodd, Lot.
Cab. t. 1398).
S. villosa has oblong oval, pointed,
crenulate leaves, and greenish-yellow
flowers (Lot, Reg. t. 1134),
S. Youngeana, said to be a hybrid
between S. speciosa and S, velutina,
has violet or purple flowers, yellowish-
white at the base, spotted in the
throat (Lot. Mag. t. 3954).
SISYRINCHIUM (sys, a pig;
rynchos, a snout; in reference to pigs
grubbing out the root-stocks). Nat.
Ord. Iridee.—There are about sixty
species known, but comparatively few
are of a garden value. Many of them
are quite hardy, but a few are tender.
They all flourish in a light rich soil of
peat, loam, and sand in about equal
proportions, and may be increased by
division of the root-stocks in autumn.
Although usually classed with bulbous
plants, there are practically neither
rhizomes, tubers, or bulbs in the genus,
418
SISYRINCHIUM
although the plants have a Leek-like
base.
The following are some of the best-
known kinds :—
S. angustifolium (S. gramineum).
—This native of the United States
and Mexico is now naturalised in
boggy parts of Western Ireland and
in New Zealand. It has winged
stems, narrow leaves, and violet
flowers yellow at the base of the
oboval and distinctly mucronulate
segments. (Bot. Mag. t. 464; Red.
Lil. t. 282.)
S. Bermudiana. — A native of
Bermuda, 6 to 12 ins. high, with
flattened broadly winged — stems,
narrow leaves, and sky-blue flowers
in June and July (Bot. Mag. t. 94).
This species requires to be grown ina
greenhouse or frame.
S. californicum (Marica califor-
nica), — A half-hardy Californian
plant with uniform yellow flowers
(Lot. Mag. t. 983), Greenhouse or
frame.
S. chilense.—A native of Brazil, 9
to 18 ins. high, with narrow sword-
shaped leaves, and lilac flowers,
yellow ‘at the base of the segments
(Lot. Mag. t. 2786). Greenhouse.
S. filifolium.—aA rush-like species
from the Falkland Islands, 6 to 12
ins. high, the roundish leafless stems
bearing clusters of pure white bell-
shaped flowers at the top (Bot. Mag.
t. 6829). Greenhouse.
S. graminifolium. — A Chilian
species, 12 to 18 ins, high, with
winged stems, narrow grass - like
leaves and yellow flowers (ot. Reg.
t. 1067). The variety maculatum has
the base of the floral segments
spotted with blood red (Lot. Mag. t.
3197). Greenhouse.
S. grandiflorum,—This is the best-
known species of all, and is popularly
known as the “Spring Satan Flower.”
It isa native of N, America, and is
THE BULB BOOK
SPARAXIS
a beautiful hardy perennial with a
somewhat creeping root-stock, erect
narrow pointed leaves 6 to 8 ins. long,
and drooping, dark purple, bell-
shaped flowers in May and June (Bot.
Mag. t. 3509; Bot. Reg. t. 1364).
The variety album has white flowers.
This species is quite hardy, and
should be planted in bold masses in
the border or rockery for effect.
S. iridifolium (S. /axum). — This
species grows wild from Brazil to
Chili, and is 12 to 18 ins. high,
having narrow sword-like leaves cili-
ated on the margins, and yellowish-
white flowers veined with brown (Bot.
Mag. t. 2319; Bot. Reg. t. 646,
as WMarica). Greenhouse.
Ss. micranthum, — This Tropical
American plant is now naturalised in
parts of Australia. It has flexuose
stems, bract-like leaves, and small
pale yellow flowers (Bot. Mag. t.
2116). Greenhouse.
S. striatum (Marica striata).—A
Chilian species, 1 to 2 ft. high, having
narrow distichous leaves, and pale
yellow flowers striped with brown
(Bot. Mag. t. 701). Greenhouse or
frame.
S. tenuifolium.—A Mexican plant
having two-edged stems, narrow
pointed leaves with roughish margins,
and pale yellow flowers (Bot. Mag.
tt. 2117, 2313).
SPARAXIS (sparasso, to tear; in
allusion to the torn spathes). Nat.
Ord. Iridee.—This genus contains
about half a dozen species of graceful
bulbous plants, having bell-shaped
flowers cut into six more or less equal
segments,
The species are all natives of S.
Africa, and may be regarded as fairly
hardy in the milder parts of the
Kingdom. In other localities they
are best grown in a frame or green-
house, and generally speaking may be
419
SPREKELIA
treated like the Ixtas. They like
warm, sheltered spots, well-drained
sandy soil, and should be planted in
large clumps to secure an effect. The
best way to increase them is by off-
sets from the older bulbs when the
leaves have died down,
S. bulbifera (Jria bulbifera).—A
pretty species 6 to 12 ins. high, with
two-ranked lance-shaped leaves, and
yellow bell-shaped flowers, having
the spathes striped with purple at
the tips (Bot. Mag. t. 545; Red.
Lil. t. 128). Best grown in frame or
greenhouse,
S. grandiflora,—aA fine species 1 to
2 ft. high, with lance-shaped pointed
leaves, and deep violet-purple flowers
in April and May, the wedged-shaped
segments often having a deeper
coloured blotch at the base (Sot.
Mag. tt. 779, 541, Zxva.)
There are several varieties of this
species, one called Jiliago, having
white flowers ; another /ineata, with
yellow flowers lined and washed with
rose ; and ste//arvs, a fine purple.
S. pulcherrima is now known as
DreraMA—which see.
S. tricolor.—This species resembles
S. grandiflora in appearance, but has
rich orange-red flowers with a yellow
centre, and a purple-brown blotch at
the base of the segments (Bot. Mag.
tt. 381 (Ixia), 1482).
There are several varieties, such as
blanda, white, suffused with red and
yellow ; Grifini, yellow tipped with
violet-purple ; and versicolor, bright
purple with a yellow blotch at the
base.
SPREKELIA (after Dr Sprekel, a
German botanist). Nat. Ord.Amaryl-
lidee. — The only species in this
genus is—
S. formosissima (Amaryllis formo-
sissima), JACOBEZA Lity.—A distinct
and beautiful plant from Guatemala
THE BULB BOOK
STENOMESSON
and Mexico, having bulbs about 2
ins. thick, narrow strap-shaped leaves
12 to 18 ins, long, and bright crimson
irregular wavy flowers, each about
6 ins. across, borne on stems 6 to 12
ins. high. The three upper segments
of the perianth are distinctly clawed,
the middle one being broader than
the others, while the three other seg-
ments droop (Dot, May. t. 47).
There are varieties such as g/auca,
with glaucous leaves and_ paler
flowers; Karwinski, in which the
petals are keeled and edged with
white; and ringens, in which the
upper petal is striped at the base and
centre with yellow.
The Jacobzea Lily if planted in the
outside border about May will flower
in the open air during the summer
months. The bulbs, however, should
be taken up in the autumn and stored
till the following spring. Generally
speaking, it is too tender for open-air
treatment altogether except in the
very mildest parts of the Kingdom.
It may, however, be easily grown in
a greenhouse in a compost of rich
sandy loam, with a little peat or leaf-
soil, and some old cow-manure. The
plants are increased by offsets from
the old bulbs.
STENOMESSON (sfenos, narrow ;
messon, the middle ; the fiowers being
contracted in the middle), Nat. Ord.
Amaryllidee.—A genus containing
about a dozen species of pretty
bulbous plants, all natives of the
Andes of Peru and Ecuador, at an
altitude of 8000 to 13,000 ft. The
leaves are narrow, strap-shaped, or
lance-shaped, and the flowers (few or
many) are borne in an umbel on top
of a scape. The perianth is funnel-
shaped, often somewhat contracted
from the base to the middle.
These bulbous plants, if not alto-
gether hardy, except in the most
420
STENOMESSON
favoured parts of the United
Kingdom, are easily grown in frames
or greenhouses. The bulbs should
be planted or potted up in February
or March in a well-mixed compost of
sandy loam, leaf-mould, and a little
cow-manure, any offsets from the old
bulbs being detached at the time to
increase the stock. During growth a
fair amount of water will be necessary,
and the plants when in blossom should
be shaded from the burning rays of
thesun. During the winter period the
bulbs require a rest, and may be kept
quite dry in the old soil. When
growth recommences they should be
shaken out of the old mould and
potted up afresh.
S. aurantiacum (S. Hartwegi).—
The roundish bulbs of this species
are about 1 in. through, and the
bright orange funnel-shaped flowers ©
appear in summer on scapes 1 to 14
ft. high, before the narrow leaves
appear (Lot, Reg. 1844, t. 42; Rev,
Hort, 1883, t. 396).
S. coccineum (Coburgia coccinea).—
The ovoid bulbs are about 14 ins, in
diameter, and the bright green leaves
about a foot long are developed after
the bright red flowers (fef. Bot. t.
309 ; Bot. Mag. t. 3865).
The variety breviforum has paler
red flowers, and lance-shaped leaves.
S. croceum,—The bulbs and leaves
as in the other species. Flowers four
to six in an umbel, pale yellow, cylin-
drical, suddenly dilated at the middle.
(Red, Inil, t. 187, as Pancratium).
S. flavum (Chrysiphiala flava).—
This species has oblanceolate leaves a
foot long and an inch broad, and the
flowers are bright yellow 14 to 2 ins.
long (Bot, Mag. t. 2641; Lot, Reg. t.
978).
The variety latifolium (or S, vitel-
linum) has orange-yellow flowers, with
an entire tooth between each stamen
filament (Bot. Mag. t. 3803; Fot.
THE BULB BOOK
STENOMESSON
Req. 1842, t. 2). The variety eurvi-
dentatum has golden-yellow flowers
greenish at the base, with a bifid
tooth between each stamen filament
(Bot, Mag. t. 2640),
S. humile (Coburgia humilis).—
This species has erect orange-red
flowers 25 ins. long, borne singly on
a very short scape about March and
April (Ref. Bot. sub t. 308; Sot.
Reg. 1842, t. 46).
S. incarnatum.—The long-necked
roundish bulbs are 2 to 3 ins. in
diameter, and the strap-shaped leaves
1 to 13 ft. long and an inch broad,
Fic. 314.—Stenomesson incarnatum,
appear at the same time as the pale
or bright red flowers, which are 2 to
3 ins. long, and borne on top of a
scape 13 to 2 ft. high (Ref. Lot. sub
t. 308; Gartenfl. t. 1147; ll. Hort.
1891, 123; Garden, 1896, i. t. 1076 ;
Sw, Brit. Fl, Gard. ser. ii. t. 17).
There are several varieties, such as
fulvum (or Coburgia fulva), brownish-
yellow (Pot. Mag. t. 3221; Bot. Reg
t. 1497); trichromum ( Coburgia),
421
STENOMESSON
scarlet with distinct green stripes on
the segments (ot. Mag. tt. 3867,
5686 ; Rev. Hort. 1890, t. 108) ; versi-
color, varying from scarlet to pale
brown (Pot, Reg. xxviii. t. 66).
Fic. 8315.—Stenomesson incarnatum trichromum.
S. luteo-viride.—This species has
round buibs 3 ins. through, leaves a
foot long and 1 to 1} ins, broad, de-
veloped in April and May at the
same time as the flowers, the latter
being primrose-yellow tipped with
green, and 2 to 24 ins, long (Lot.
Mag. t. 6508).
S. Pearcei,—Bulbs ovoid, 2 ins,
through, long-necked. Leaves lance-
shaped, a foot long, developed after
the pale yellow funnel-shaped flowers,
which are borne on scapes 2 to 3 ft.
high. (Ref. Lot, t. 308.)
S. recurvatum,—The bulbs are 1
to 14 ins. in diameter, the narrow
leaves are about 1 ft. long, and the
reddish-yellow flowers, 2 to 24 ins,
THE BULB BOOK
florum). — The
STERNBERGIA
long, are borne on seapes 1 to 14 ft.
high (Ref, Bot. sub t. 308),
S. suspensum,— Bulbs ovoid 1 to
1} ins, through ; leaves narrow lance-
shaped about 1 ft. long. Flowers
drooping, 1 to 1} ins. long, bright
scarlet. (Ref. Bot. t. 22.)
S. viridifiorum (Callithauma viridi-
cylindrical - necked,
ovoid bulbs are 14 to 2 ins, in diameter,
and the leaves are about 1 in. broad.
The flowers with a curved tube 2 ins.
long, are entirely green, and are borne
on scapes 13 to 2 ft. high (Pot. Mag.
t. 3866, a). The variety angustifolium
has narrower leaves (Bot, Mag. t.
3866, b); and the variety Hlwesi has
the staminal cup deeply six-cleft, its
lobes quadrate and emarginate.
STERNBERGIA (after Count Stern-
berg, a German botanist), Nat. Ord.
Amaryllidee,—The Sternbergias are
charming little plants with long-
necked bulbs, strap-shaped leaves,
and bright yellow, erect, funnel -
shaped flowers. They are perfectly
hardy, and will flourish in any good
garden soil that has been deeply dug,
and is of a more or less gritty nature.
When grown in bold masses in the
rock-garden, shrubbery, grassland, or
flower-border, they are wonderfully
effective, the bright golden-yellow of
the blossoms being in striking con-
trast to the foliage. They are easily
increased by offsets, but the bulbs
should never be disturbed until the
leaves have completely withered.
The bulbs vary from } to 1 in, in
diameter in S. colchic/fora, to 2 ins.
in S. /utea, and should therefore be
planted from 3 or 4 to 6 ins. deep.
8. colchiciflora,—A very old garden
plant, native of S. Europe and Asia
Minor, having narrow leaves 3 to 4
ins, long in spring, at the same
time as the seed-pods are ripening,
The pale yellow sweet-scented flowers
422
STERNBERGIA
over 1} ins, long, appear in autumn,
(Lot. Reg. t. 2008.)
S, Fischeriana,— This is a fine
Caucasian species, remarkable for
its large yellow Crocus-like flowers
being produced in spring instead of
autumn, In other respects it closely
resembles S, lutea. (Bot. Mag. t.
7331; Gartenyl. t. 576.)
S. lutea (Amaryllis lutea),—This
species extends on both sides of the
Mediterranean to Syria and Persia,
and is popularly known as_ the
“Winter Daffodil” and the “ Yellow
Star Flower.” It is also supposed to
be the “Lily of the Field” alluded to
Fic. 316.—Sternbergia macrantha. (4.)
in the Scriptures, and has been
cultivated for at least three hundred
years in Britain. The large bright
yellow flowers, over 2 ins. long, appear
in September and October, nestling
amongst the leaves, which are about
1 ft. long and 4} in, broad. (Sot,
4
THE BULB BOOK
STRICKLANDIA
Mage t. 290 Red: * Lil.
Garden, 1887, 1. t. 602.)
There are several varieties, such as
angustifolia, with narrower leaves
and smaller flowers; major, with
broader leaves and larger flowers ;
greca, with very short leaves and
flower-stems ; and s¢cwla, with large
flowers, having narrower and more
pointed petals.
S. macrantha,—A fine species from
the mountains of Asia Minor, having
grey-green leaves fully developed in
June, while the bright yellow flowers,
larger than those of S. lutea, are
not produced until September and
October (Bot, Jag. t. 7459).
t. 418;
STRICKLANDIA (after Sir Chas.
Strickland, a keen amateur grower of
Fia. 317.—Stricklandia eucrosioides.
bulbous and other plants, born 1819,
died 1909),—A genus with only one
species—
S. eucrosioides (Lepertza eucro-
sioides ; Stenomesson Strickland?).—A
3
STRUMARIA
native of the Andes of Ecuador,
having ovoid bulbs 2 ins, in diameter,
bearing two thin oblong leaves 6 to 9
ins. long, with a petiole shorter than
the blade. The pure white funnel-
shaped flowers are borne on a slender
roundish scape about 1 ft. high. The
sketch was made from a plant that
fiowered in the collection of Mr A.
Worsley, an ardent bulb-grower, at
Mandeville House, Isleworth, about
ten years ago. This plant flourishes
in a greenhouse in sandy loam and
leaf-mould. (Gard. Chron. 1878, i.
170; 1882, ii. 102.)
STRUMARIA (struma, a tubercle ;
the style being enlarged at the base).
Nat. Ord. Amaryllidee.—A small
genus of South African bulbous
plants, having narrow strap-shaped
leaves, and funnel-shaped flowers
divided into oblanceolate segments,
borne in umbels.
These little-known bulbs may be
grown in cold frames or greenhouses,
or in the open air in the very mildest
parts of the Kingdom. The tunicated
bulbs vary from 3 in. to 13 ins. in
diameter, and the flowers are usually
borne in April, May, and June. The
best-known kinds are S. angustifolia,
S. rubella, S. truncata, and S. undu-
lata, all with pinkish flowers, the
last-named species having wavy
lance-shaped segments (Jacg. Ic. ii.
t. 360). The species were formerly
mixed up with the Hessgas.
SYMPHYTUM (sumphuo, to make
unite; in reference to the healing
qualities). Nat. Ord. Boraginez.
This genus contains about sixteen
species, including the well-known
“Comfrey” (S. officinale), but the
only species with a tuberous root-
stock is—
8. tuberosum.—A British plant, 1
to 2 ft. high, also native of Central
Europe, having short, thickish, hori-
THE BULB BOOK
SYNANDROSPADIX
zontal rhizomes, hairy stems and
leaves, and yellowish, drooping,
tubular flowers in June and July,
This plant flourishes in any damp
garden soil, and may be grown in
rough places unsuitable for choicer
subjects.
SYMPLOCARPUS (symploke, re-
union ; karpos, a fruit; in reference
to the cohesion of the ovaries into
a compound fruit), Nat. Ord.
Aroidez.—The following is the only
species :—
S. feetidus (Pothos fowtidus).—This
is the Meadow or Skunk Cabbage of
N. America, N.E. Asia, and Japan.
It is a vigorous-growing bog or
marsh plant with thickish root-stocks,
and grows 1 ft. or more high, having
large, thickish, oval heart-shaped
leaves 1 to 2 ft. long. The flowers
are borne on a violet spadix, which
is enclosed by an arching spathe
striped and spotted with purple and
yellowish-green. (ot. Mag. t. 836.)
This plant is perfectly hardy in the
milder parts of the Kingdom, and
may be grown in the same way as
Lysichitum, to which it is closely
related. It is easily increased by
division of the root-stocks.
SYNANDROSPADIX (syn, together;
aner, anther; spadix, a club). Nat.
Ord. Aroidez.,
S. vermitoxicus.—A rare aroid from
Tucuman, having a tuberous root-
stock with large annual leaves which
are hastate, green, and very fleshy.
The scape is about a foot high, and
bears an open ovate spathe 6 ins.
long and 4 ins. wide, grey-green
outside, flesh-coloured inside. The
spadix, about 6 ins. long, is covered
with flowers. (Bot. Mag. t. 7242.)
This plant may be grown in the
same way as recommended for Amor-
phophallus,
424
SYRINGODEA
SYRINGODEA (syringodes, fistular ;
in allusion to the slender perianth-
tube). Nat. Ord, Iridee.—Out of the
seven species in this genus the only
one worth notice is—
S. pulchella,—aA pretty little South
African plant with roundish bulbs
about 4 in, thick, sickle - shaped
bristle-like leaves, 3 to 4 ins. long,
and pale purple cylindrical flowers in
autumn, with deeply lobed wedge-
shaped segments (Lot. Mag. t. 6072 ;
Fl, d. Serr, t. 2096).
This species may be grown in a
frame or cool greenhouse in a compost
of rich sandy soil, and to secure an
effect several little bulbs should be
planted together in a pot or pan,
The plants may be increased by
offsets.
TACCA (the Malayan name). Nat.
Ord. Taccacez.—This genus, known
formerly as ATACCIA, comprises about
nine species of stove plants with
tuberous root-stocks, leaves simple
or much divided, flowers regular,
borne in umbels with several large,
more or less ornamental leafy bracts,
and numerous drooping, thread-like,
sterile blossoms,
T. artocarpifolia.— A remarkable
tuberous-rooted plant from Mada-
gascar, It bears about three leaves
with brown stalks, 2 ft. long, stout,
cylindric, the blade being 2 to 3 ft.
across, and cut into three main lobes,
which are again much divided.
Numerous flowers are borne on
thickish brown scapes 5 to 6 ft.
high, the sterile ones being drooping
and thread-like, the fertile ones being
globular, greenish with a brown base.
(Lot, Mag. t. 6124.)
T, Chantrieri.—This resembles 7’.
cristata, but differs in being much
larger in every way, and in having
more numerous long-stalked flowers.
T. cristata (7. Rafilesiana).—A fine
THE BULB BOOK
TACCA
species from the Malayan Archipelago,
having conical tuberous root-stocks,
oblong pointed leaves purplish at the
base, and numerous deep purple
flowers, the sterile ones being droop-
ing and cord-like, the fertile ones
with six lobes in two pairs with a
greenish centre (Bot. Mag. t. 4589).
Fic. 318.—Tace acristata. (4.)
T. integrifolia.—A native of the
East Indies, with a tuberous root-
stock, ovate, lance-shaped, entire
leaves with brown stalks, and six-
lobed greenish-purple flowers, sub-
tended by large leafy purple-veined
spathes (Bot. Mag. t. 1488).
T, oceanica (7'. pinnatifida).—A
Polynesian species, having turnip-
like root-stocks, three-lobed leaves
with segments deeply divided and
cut, and clusters of green flowers with
leafy bracts on top of a stoutish
scape (Lot. Mag. tt. 7299, 7300).
These wonderful and curious look-
ing plants are easily grown in a
compost of sandy loam and leaf-soil,
and require abundance of heat and
moisture, especially during active
growth, The plants may be syringed
425
TAMUS
freely, and thus kept clean until the
flowers begin to appear. They are
increased by offsets which are
produced sparingly from the sides
of the thickish root-stock. The
offsets should be placed singly in 4-
or 5-in. pots. These should be well
drained with plenty of crocks at the
bottom, and a compost of fibrous
loam, peat, and coarse sand in about
equal proportions should be used.
The offsets should be placed in a
propagating frame, and a bottom heat
of 70° F. should be maintained. The
atmosphere should be kept fairly
moist, but not too much so, as the
offsets are liable to rot away. Ina
few weeks they will be well rooted,
and may then be exposed to more
light and air, During the summer
months, the plants, young or old,
should be shaded from very strong
sunshine, As the plants increase in
size, they may be potted on each year
into slightly larger pots than before.
TAMUS (name obscure, used by
Pliny). Nat. Ord. Dioscoreaceze.—The
only species worthy of note is—
T. communis, popularly known as
“Black Bryony,” “Lady Seal,” and
“Murrain Berry.” It grows wild in
the copses and hedges in parts of
England, and has black pear-shaped
fleshy root-stocks, from which arise
slender, climbing, angular stems
several feet in length. The beautiful
ovate, heart-shaped, tapering leaves
are 3 to 6 ins, long, and are remark-
able for having netted veins—an
unusual feature amongst Monocotyle-
donous plants. The small greenish-
white flowers appear in May and
June, and are succeeded by oblong
red berries, } in. long in autumn,
This is really an excellent plant for
trailing over arches, trellises, old
hedges, ete., and will flourish in any
garden soil in partially shaded spots,
THE BULB BOOK
TECOPHILMA
It may be increased by careful
division of the root-stocks, or from
seeds,
This plant, although known as the
“ Black Bryony,” must not be confused
with the Common Bryony (Pryonia
dioica), described at p. 118.
TECOPHILASA (after Tecophilo, a
daughter of Bertero). Nat. Ord.
Heemodoracez, — The best - known
member of this genus is—
T. cyanocrocus. — A charming
Chilian perennial 6 to 9 ins, high,
having fibrous - coated corms, and
linear, channelled, wavy leaves. The
sweet - scented, six - parted flowers
Fic. 319.—Tecophilwa cyanocrocus.
appear in March and April in loose
trusses, and are of a bright gentian-
blue colour with a white centre. The
variety Leichtlini has deeper blue
flowers without a white centre ; and
the variety Rege/i has narrower leaves
and petals than the type. (Gartenjl.
t. 718.)
This pretty plant, unfortunately, is
only fairly hardy in the milder parts
of the Kingdom. At the base of a
south wall, the corms may be planted
426
TESTUDINARIA
from 6 to 9 ins, deep in a compost of
well-drained sandy peat and leaf-
mould. In very wet or _ severe
winters, the dormant corms should
be protected with a little litter or
bracken, or old lights. When grown
in pots, the plants are charming for
cool greenhouse decoration, but the
corms need not be buried more than
2 or 3 ins. in the soil. During
vigorous growth plenty of water may
be given, but the supply should be
gradually diminished as the autumn
approaches, and the plants show signs
of resting. The plants are increased
by offsets at planting time, or by
seeds sown in pots under glass when
thoroughly ripe.
TESTUDINARIA (testudo, a tor-
toise, the markings on the hard
tuber resembling those on the shell
of a tortoise). Nat. Ord. Dios-
coreaceze.—The best known of the
two species in this genus is—
T, elephantipes (7’iamus elephan-
tipes)—A singular-looking South
African plant popularly known as
‘“Elephant’s Foot,” Hottentot Bread,”
and “Tortoise Plant.” It has a large
woody tuberous root-stock, sometimes
as much as a yard in diameter,
marked very much like a tortoise’s
body, and giving rise to slender
climbing branching stems, sometimes
30 to 40 ft. long, and furnished with
broadly heart-shaped or kidney-
shaped leaves with netted veins.
The greenish-yellow flowers are
small and bell-shaped, the staminate
(male), and pistillate (female), being
borne on separate plants, (Dot.
Reg. t. 921; Bot. Mag. t. 1347.)
This extraordinary plant is more
of a vegetable curiosity than any-
thing else in greenhouses, It may
be seen growing in the Succulent
House at Kew, flourishing in a com-
post of sandy loam and mortar
4
THE BULB BOOK
THLADIANTHA
rubble, requiring just enough heat
in winter to keep the frost away
from it. When seeds can be pro-
cured, plants may be easily raised
from them, by sowing in sandy loam
and leaf-soil in a temperature of
60° to 65° F. When the young
plants are well established, with
stems 6 to 9 ins, high, they may be
potted up separately in small pots
in a similar compost, and grown on
from year to year.
THALICTRUM (thallo, to grow
green ; in reference to the colour of
the young shoots), MrEapow RuvueE.
Nat. Ord. Ranunculacee.—Of the
fifty species in this genus, there are
a few with tuberous root-stocks,
T, anemonoides (Anemone thalic-
troides).—A pretty North American
hardy perennial about 6 ins, high,
with clusters of thickened tuberous
roots and twice- or thrice-ternate
leaves, having long-stalked three-
lobed leaflets. The white flowers,
with protruding yellow stamens,
appear in April and May. (Bot.
Mag. t. 866.) The variety jlore pleno
has small double flowers.
T, tuberosum.—A Spanish Meadow
Rue, about 12 ins, high, with knotty
root-stocks, twice- or thrice-pinnate
leaves, and corymbs of white flowers
in June.
These two, species flourish in
partial shade in a nook in the rock-
garden, and like a moist peaty soil.
They may be increased by careful
division of the root-stocks in early
autumn, or by seeds. The latter
method is often considered best, as
the root-stocks, if divided roughly,
often take a long time to recover,
THLADIANTHA (th/adias, com-
pressed ; anthos, 1 flower—the first
description of the plant is said to
have been from a dried specimen).
7
THLADIANTHA
Nat. Ord. Cucurbitacee,—The best
known member of the genus is—
T. dubia.—A native of India and
China, having swollen tuberous
roots and climbing stems 12 to 20
ft. long, furnished with pretty heart-
shaped hairy leaves. The yellow
flowers are freely produced during
the summer months, and in the case
of the female plants are succeeded
in autumn by bright red downy
fruits about the size and shape of
a hen’s egg. (Bot. Mag. t. 5469.)
Fic. 320.—Thladiantha dubia, seedlings.
This species will grow well in the
open air if planted against a south
wall in the Midlands, or in any
position in the mildest parts of the
Kingdom. To secure a good supply
of the bright red fruits, it must be
remembered that the plant is dice-
cious—that is, the male and female
flowers are borne on distinct and
separate plants. Of course both
kinds should be grown, as it is
essential to have the pollen from the
stamens of one plant to fertilise the
pistils of the other, The plants may
be increased by division of the root-
stocks in spring, and from seeds
sown under glass.
T. Oliveri—This is a much finer
and more vigorous plant than 7’
dubia, but has no tubers. The
stems are 30 ft. long, the leaves are
larger, and the flowers more numerous.
(Rev. Hort, 1908, 472, f. 194.)
q
THE BULB BOOK
9
TIGRIDIA
THOMSONIA (after Dr A. 7.
Thomson, 1778-1849). Nat. Ord.
Aroidez,—A genus containing only
two or three species of tuberous-
rooted stove plants, closely related to
Amorphophallus and requiring the
same treatment. The species known
are T. Hookeri, and T, nepalensis,
the latter from the Himalayas, hav-
ing a large tuberous root-stock, an
annual leaf 2 ft. high, with a trisected
pinnatifid blade 2 ft. across, and an
erect scape 4 ft. high, bearing a
greenish-yellow boat-shaped spathe
nearly a foot long, and an erect
yellow spadix nearly as long as the
spathe. (Bot. May. t. 7342.)
TIGRIDIA (tigris, a tiger; eidos,
like; in reference to the spotted
flowers), TicG—ER FLower. Nat. Ord.
Fic. 321.—Tigridia, bulb and section.
Tridew.—A genus containing about
ten species of herbaceous plants,
with ovoid bulb-like corms covered
with brown and membranous coats,
and having plaited leaves, and more
or less heavily spotted cup-like Howers,
with three broad outer petals and
three much smaller inner ones, Fila-
ments united to the top in a long
cylindrical column.
The Tiger flowers, being mostly
TIGRIDIA
natives of Mexico and Peru, are not
strictly hardy in the British Islands.
They may, however, be grown with
considerable success south of the
Thames, and in all favoured localities
in the open air; and the bulbs may
be even left in the ground during
the winter months if protected from
severe frosts and cold drenching
rains. They may be planted out in
April or May, 3 to 6 ins. deep, on
a south border made up of rich
sandy loam, and leaf-mould or well-
rotted manure. The plants like
Fic. 322.—Tigridia Pavonia, var. (3.
g 2
plenty of moisture during the
summer months when in full growth,
and enjoy a good mulching or top-
dressing of old cow-manure which
keeps the soil damp during hot
seasons. Occasional waterings with
liquid manure, especially when the
plants are coming into blossom, will
impart vigour to the trusses and
brilliancy to the flowers. The
THE BULB BOOK
TIGRIDIA
simplest way to increase the stock
is to detach offsets when lifting the
bulbs in autumn, or when replanting
in spring. When the bulbs are taken
up at the end of the flowering season,
they should be stored in sand, dry
soil, or coco-nut fibre, and kept in a
frost-proof place.
Notwithstanding the somewhat
{fleeting character of the individual
blossoms, the Tiger flowers if planted
in bold masses make a brilliant and
rather unique display of colour, and
the quaint structure and markings
of the {lowers always attract attention.
Each day sees a fresh supply of
blossoms taking the place of those
that have already faded. Some of
the species mentioned below are
best grown in frames or greenhouses,
and these are specially noted, as well
as those species natives of Peru.
T. atrata.— A Mexican species
about 2 ft. high, with lance-shaped
plaited leaves, and purple-brown
flowers with green claws.
T. buccifera.—This species grows
about a foot high, and has yellowish-
green flowers, spotted with purple at
the base, the three outer oboval seg-
ments being also purple (Gard. and
For, 1889, f. 125). Frame or green-
house,
T. curvata.—A little-known species,
about a foot high, with yellowish
flowers spotted with purple, the
narrower inner segments being
reddish-brown, the claw being dotted
with blackish purple. Frame or
greenhouse,
T. lutea.—A Peruvian species,
under a foot high, having sweet-
scented pale yellow flowers obscurely
spotted (Bot. May. t. 6295).
T. Meleagris (//ydrotenia Mele-
agris)—A distinct-looking species,
1 to 15 ft. high, remarkable for hav-
ing a cluster of several flowers
emerging from the spathe. These
429
TRICHOPUS
are drooping, broadly
purplish edged
spotted with
XXvili, t. 39.)
T. Pavonia (lerraria Pavonia; F.
Tigridia)—This is the well-known
“Peacock Tiger Flower” of Mexico.
It has forked leafy stems 1 to 2
ft. high, plaited leaves 12 to 18 ins,
long, and flowers about 6 ins. across,
the outer segments being violet at
the base, scarlet at the tips, and with
zones of yellow blotched with purple.
(Bot. Mag. t. 582; Red. Lnl. t. 6;
And, Bot, Rep, t. 178.)
There are several varieties, the
best being alba, pure white spotted
with purple ; aurea, yellow ; conchi-
Jlora, yellow blotched with purple ;
grandifora, «a fine large - flowered
form; and several others differing
merely in shades of colour,
T, Pringlei.—This grows 1 to 2 ft.
high, and has winged, plaited leaves,
and shallow cup-like flowers of a
brilliant scarlet blotched with
crimson (Lot. Mag. t. 7089). Frame
or greenhouse,
T, Van Houttei.—This grows 2 to
3 ft. high, and produces bell-shaped
yellow flowers, having a large purple
blotch at the base of the outer seg-
segments (1’/, d. Serr. t. 2174).
T, violacea.—This has forked
branches about a foot high, and
narrow leaves about a foot long.
The drooping flowers are violet, the
outer petals being rosy-purple, with
a white claw spotted with purple.
(Bot. Mag. t. 73856; I, d. Serr.
t. 998.)
bell-shaped,
with yellow, and
purple. (ot. Reg.
TRICHOPUS (frichos, a hair; pus,
a foot ; in reference to slender stems).
Nat. Ord. Dioscoreaceee.—The only
species is—-
T, zeylanicus, a native of India
and Ceylon, being a dwarf plant with
a woody root-stock from which arise
THE BULB BOOK
TRICYRTIS
numerous short wiry three-angled
stems, each bearing a heart-shaped
lanceolate leaf 25 ins. long, and
several star-shaped purple flowers on
slender stalks, The fruits are three-
angled, winged, (/ot. Mag. t. 7350.)
This plant may be grown in rich
loamy soil in the stove house,
TRICYRTIS (/reis, three; /kyrtos,
convex, gibbous; alluding to the
three outer segments of the perianth
having sac-like bases). Nat. Ord.
Liliaceze.—A small genus of perennial
plants with short creeping root-stocks,
and tall stems furnished with ovate or
oblong, nearly stalkless and stem-
clasping leaves. The bell-shaped
flowers have six lance-shaped seg-
ments, the three outer ones of which
are saccate at the base. The fila-
ments of the six stamens unite into
a tube around the ovary.
The members of this genus are
distinct and ornamental plants, but
not very well known in gardens
generally, They are quite hardy, but
unfortunately often flower so late in
the season that the early frosts play
havoc with the blossoms. To avoid
this, especially in northern localities,
the plants may be grown in cold
frames or greenhouses. Propagation
is effected by careful division of the
root-stocks in spring. Seeds may
also be sown when obtainable,
T, hirta.—This handsome plant is
known as the “Japanese Toad Lily.”
It has softly hairy stems 1 to 3 ft.
high, and alternate lance - shaped
stem-clasping leaves 4 to 6 ins, long,
arranged in two almost opposite
rows. The beautiful white flowers,
heavily spotted with violet or purple,
appear from August to October at
the ends of the shoots and in the
axils of the upper leaves. (Jot.
Mag, t, 5355.)
The variety migra has velvety
430
ee
TRILLIUM
blackish blotches on the flowers, and
these generally appear earlier than
those of the type.
T. macropoda,—A native of China
and Japan, 2 to 3 ft. high, having
oblong, pointed leaves 4 to 5 ins.
long, smooth above, downy beneath,
and pale purple flowers in autumn
spotted with blackish - purple (Lot.
Mag. t. 6544; Gartenfl. t. 313). The
variety known as adlbostriata has
variegated leaves.
T. pilosa, —A hairy Himalayan
species 2 to 4 ft. high, with stem-
clasping leaves 4 to 6 ins. long. The
whitish flowers, with large deep
purple spots appear somewhat earlier
than those of the other species.
(Bot. Mag, t. 4955; Fl. d. Serr, t.
1219.)
TRILLIUM (éri/ix, triple; the
leaves and parts of the flower being
in threes). Nat. Ord. Liliaceze.—A
genus of herbaceous perennials,
having short thick root-stocks, and
being remarkable for having the
leaves and flowers arranged in threes.
Such popular names as “American
Wood Lily,” “Indian Shamrock,” and
“Three - leaved Nightshade” have
been applied to different species.
The Wood Lilies—as the Trilliums
are generally called in England—are
excellent plants for partially shaded
spots in the rock-garden, or in the
flower-border,
deep well - drained peaty soil that
holds sufficient moisture for their
roots during the summer months.
To obtain fresh plants, the root-stocks
may be carefully divided in autumn
or early spring, but it is better to
leave the plants undisturbed when
once nicely established. They are
all natives of N. America,
T, cernuum,—This species grows
about 18 ins. high, and has broadly
rhomboidal leaves 2 to 6 ins, long.
THE BULB BOOK
TRILLIUM
The drooping white Howers appear
in April and May. (Sot. Mag. t.
954.)
T. erectum (7’. fwtidum). — This
grows about a foot high, and is
remarkable for its dark purple nasty-
smelling flowers which appear in May
(Bot. Mag. t. 470). In the variety
album, the flowers are white ; and in
ochroleucum, yellowish - white (Jot.
Mag. t. 3250, as viridiforum). The
variety declinatum has white or
pinkish flowers, and atropurpureum
is a strong grower with deep reddish-
crimson or plum-coloured flowers.
T,. erythrocarpum.—This is popu-
larly known as the “ Painted Wood
Lily,’ owing to the white flowers,
which appear in April and May
being striped with purple at the
base (Zot. Mag. t. 3002). It is best
to plant this rather shy species in
damp peaty soil in semi-shaded spots.
T. grandiflorum.— The Wake
Robin. A fine free-growing species
They flourish in a “=
Fic. 323.—Trillium grandiflorum. (%.)
1 to 13 ft. high, having leaves 3 to 5
ins. long, and pure white flowers about
3 ins. across in May (Lot. Mag. t. 855,
431
TRILLIUM
as 7’. erythrocarpum ; Garden, 1891, t.
21; Gartenfl. t. 575; Fl, d. Serr.
t. 991). This is the very best species
from a garden point of view. There
are several forms, one being flushed
with rose or pink, called rosewm.
T, nivale.— This charming little
species grows 3 to 4 ins. high, and
has oblong almost stalkless leaves,
Fic. 324.—Trillium nivale.
and pure white flowers about 2 ins.
across, in April and May (Bot, Mag.
t. 6449).
T, obovatum,—This is apparently
a form of 7’. erectum, having white
flowers fading to pink.
T, recurvatum,—Somewhat similar
to 7’. sessile, having dusky purple-
brown flowers.
T. sessile.—This species grows from
6 to 12 ins. high, has stalkless,
broadly oval leaves mottled with
light and dark green, and deep purple
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 40; LU. d. Serr.
t. 2311).
The variety californicum is more
robust and has larger flowers. 7’.
discolor with deep purple flowers
(Bot. Mag. t. 3097) is considered by
THE BULB BOOK
TRILLIUM
Sereno Watson to be identical with
7’. sessile Wrayt.
Fic. 825.—Trillium sessile californicum.
(3-)
Fic. 826.—Tvrilliwm styloswm.
T, stylosum (7' Catesbar; T.
nervosum).—This species, 1 to 14 ft,
432
TRITELEIA
high, with oval or oblong pointed
leaves, produces its pink tinted
flowers in April and May, and is
remarkable for having the three
styles united from the base to the
middle.
TRITELEIA (trezs, three; teleios,
complete ; in allusion to the perfect
ternary arrangement of the flowers
and seed-pods). Nat, Ord, Liliaceze.—
The species formerly known, and
still known in gardens under this
name, are now referred to the genus
Brop1r£A—which see, p. 113.
TRITONIA (triton, a weathercock ;
in allusion to the variable direction
Fic. 327.—Tritonia, showing corms and
rhizomes. (}.)
of the stamens). Nat. Ord. Irideze.—
A genus of 8. African plants, having
fibrous-coated corms, narrow sword-
like leaves, and flowers in gracefully
arching spikes. The plants so well
known in gardens under the name of
MoNTBRETIA are now referred to
this genus,
433
THE BULB BOOK
TRITONIA
Being natives of S. Africa, these
plants are not considered sufficiently
hardy for open-air culture, except in
the very mildest parts of the Kingdom.
They are, however, easily grown in
cold frames and greenhouses, and in
all except the bleakest spots, they
may be grown with fair success in
open sunny borders during the
summer months. They like a com-
post of rich loam, leaf-soil, or peat in
about equal proportions, and during
growth plenty of moisture at the
roots. In the autumn the corms
should be lifted when the leaves
have turned yellow, and stored in a
frost - proof place till the end of
March or April. The best method
of increasing the stock is by offsets.
Seeds, however, may be sown when
thoroughly ripe, or in spring, by those
who have patience enough to wait
a few years for flowering-size corms
to develop.
T. Clusiana.—This is a species about
1 ft. high, which seems to form a link
between Tritonia and Antholyza, the
flowers being hooded as in those of
the last-named genus (Gard. Chron.
1905, Xxxviii. 269).
T. crocata (Jxia crocata).—A fine
species about 2 ft. high, having a
two-ranked spike of saffron or orange-
yellow bell-shaped flowers in June
and July. In some forms the flowers
are spotted with red, yellow, or
brown (Lot. Mag. tt. 135, 184). The
variety miniata has scarlet flowers
(Lot. Mag. t. 609). T. deusta differs
only in having a purple-black blotch
on the claw of the three outer
segments (Bot. Mag. t. 622).
T. crocosmiefiora (Monthretia
aureo-Potts:)—This is a fine garden
hybrid between 7. Pottsi and
Crocosma aurea (see p. 164). It
resembles a Gladiolus in growth,
being 2 to 23 ft. high. About July
it produces masses of bright orange-
2E
TRITONIA
scarlet funnel - shaped flowers on
branched leafy stems, which are very
useful for cutting. There are now
Fic. 828.—Tritonia crocosmiefiora. (3.)
many splendid garden varieties all
worthy of a place in the outdoor
garden. Amongst the best are—
Cresus, large. yellow; Diadem,
rich dark orange petals zoned with
a broad maroon ring around the
clear yellow eye ; Etoile de Feu, deep
orange-red ; Gerbe dor, rich golden
yellow; Germania, rich orange
flowers ; Le Pactole, large deep yellow
flowers 3 ins. across ; Lutetia, elegant
flowers of a ruddy tint; Martagon,
deep orange reflexed flowers with
orange-red throat; Messidor, soft
yellow flowers on tall much-branched
stems ; Prometheus, large flowers 3
ins. in diameter, deep orange, touched
with orange - red around the eye;
Solfaterre, chrome yellow ; Sunbeam,
clear yellow, rayed with deep orange-
red.
THE BULB BOOK
TRITONIA
T. flava.—F lowers yellow, cylindri-
cal (Bot. Reg. t. 747).
T. hyalina (7’, fenestrata).—A rather
tender species with pinkish flowers
(Bot. Mag. t. 704).
T. lineata (Gladiolus lineatus).—
This species has white-edged leaves
and straw-yellow flowers veined and
washed with orange (Sot. Mag. t.
487 ; Red. Lil. tt. 55, 400).
T. Pottsi (Montbretia Pottsi)—A
fine species 3 to 4 ft. high, with sword-
Fic. 329.—Tritonia Pottsi. (3.)
like leaves 14 to 2 ft. long, and
gracefully nodding spikes of bright
yellow funnel-shaped flowers suffused
with red (Bot. Mag. t. 6722). There
are several fine forms, amongst the
best being grandiflora, with orange-
red flowers; Goldmine, reddish-
scarlet. Indeed the forms of 7.
Pottsi and 7’. crocosmicflora are now
becoming confused, and are apparently
referred to under either name.
Other species of Tritonia, chiefly of
botanical interest only, are T. rosea,
pink (Bot. Mag. t. 7280) ; T. scillaris,
reddish, fading to white (Bot. Mag.
t. 629) ; T. securigera, brownish (Red.
Til. t. 53; Bot, Mag. t. 883); T.
434
TROPAOLUM
squalida, brownish (Bot, Mag: t. 581) ;
and T, undulata, red, varying to white
and blue (Bot. Mag. t. 599).
TROPASOLUM (tropaion, a trophy ;
the leaves resemble a buckler, and
the flowers a helmet). Nat. Ord.
Geraniacez.—Out of the thirty-five
species in this genus there are several
with tuberous root-stocks, the best-
known being mentioned below. The
stems of most species are more or
less climbing or rambling, and bear
leaves more or less lobed and not so
round as in:such well-known kinds
as the large and small Indian Cress
(7. majus and 7’, minus), They are
all easily recognised, not only by the
lobed or unlobed peliate leaves, but
also by the irregular flowers composed
of five petals, often hairy at the base,
by the eight free stamens, and the
three-lobed capsule. Some of the
species described below are more
tender than others, and can only be
regarded as hardy in the mildest
parts of the Kingdom. They may,
however, be grown in warm sheltered
spots, and in well-drained sandy soil
into which some leaf-mould or well-
decayed manure has been dug. In
bleak localities the tuberous roots
should be covered with a layer of
litter or bracken in winter as a
protection against severe frosts.
T, azureum.—A beautiful but
rather tender Chilian species with
roundish tubers, slender stems 3 to
6 ft. long, small irregularly five-lobed
leaves, and blue flowers with five
bilobed petals (ot. Reg. xxvii. t. 65).
T. Beuthi.—A native of Bolivia,
with tuberous root-stocks, roundish
leaves divided into five to six oboval
lobes, and yellow flowers in June and
July. Rather tender. /
T. brachyceras.—This Chilian plant
has the leaves divided into six to
seven lobes, and yellow flowers with
THE BULB BOOK
TROPAOLUM
a short spur (Bot. Mag. t. 3851; Bot.
Reg. t. 1926 ; Fl. d. Serr. t. 368). A
tender plant best grown in a green-
house.
T, edule.—A Chilian species closely
related to 7. polyphyllum, having
leaves divided into six oblong, lance-
shaped lobes, and orange - yellow
flowers with a tapering spur (J/aund.
Bot, t. 248; Paxt. Mag. Bot. ix. t.
127).
T, Leichtlini,—This is a fine hybrid
between 7’, polyphyllum and 7’. edule.
It has tubers about the size of a small
potato, grey-green leaves deeply cut
into narrow lobes, and producing in
May and June numerous bright
orange-yellow flowers spotted with
red. (fev, Hort. 1897, t. 400.)
T. Moritzianum,—A beautiful plant
from Caracas, having large tuberous
roots, long-stalked peltate leaves 4 to
6 ins. across, and bright yellow and
orange flowers in July, the upper
ciliated petals being veined with
deep red (Bot. Mag. t. 3844; Pact.
Mag. Bot, viii. t. 199). It is safer
to grow this in a frame or greenhouse
in most places.
T. pentaphyllum,—A native of
Buenos Ayres, having roundish
brown - skinned tubers, © slightly
twisted and branched purplish stems,
and leaves palmately cut into five
oblong lobes. The flowers appear in
June and July, and are bright ver-
milion, the sepals being purple. (Bot.
Mag. t. 3190.)
T. polyphyllum,—A_ free-growing
Chilian species, with trailing stems
3 to 4 ft. long, well furnished with
grey-green leaves cut into about eight
obovate lance-shaped lobes. The
bright yellow flowers appear in June
and July, the two broader petals
being spotted with red, The tubers
are oblong, with dark red skin. (Bot.
Mag. t. 4042; Il. d. Serr. t. 2066 ;
Paxt, Mag, Bot, x, t, 175.)
435
TROPZOLUM
T. speciosum.—This fine Chilian
climber, popularly known as the
“Flame Nasturtium,” has _pear-
shaped tubers, hairy stems, and six-
lobed almost peltate leaves. The
bright scarlet flowers are borne in
great profusion from June to October
in localities where the plants flourish,
the upper petals being heart- or
wedge-shaped, the lower ones rounded
and the spur long. (Bot. Mag. t.
4323 ; FI. d. Serr. t. 281.)
Fic. 330.—Tropaxolum speciosum. (3.)
This species does not grow equally
well in all places—chiefiy perhaps
because it is coddled too much. It
likes a deep soil composed of loam,
leaf-soil, and sand, to which a little
well-rotted manure may be added.
Very hot scorching positions should
be avoided. Cool shady spots facing
between north-east and north-west,
ard under walls, bushes, or hedges
are best. The tubers should be
planted in April or May, 4 to 6 ins.
deep, and left to look after them-
selves.
T. tricolorum, — Another pretty
Chilian species with small, roundish,
brown-skinned tubers, trailing stems
with leaves cut into five to six
oblong lobes, and flowers having
small orange-yellow petals, and a
fiery scarlet calyx (Bot. Mag. t.
3169; Fl. d. Serr. tt. 369, 1881).
There is a fine variety called grandi-
florum, with larger flowers and a
more vigorous habit. Greenhouse or
frame.
THE BULB BOOK
TULBAGHIA
T. tuberosum.—A Peruvian species
with yellowish tubers tinged with
carmine, from which arise stems 3 to
6 ft. long, bearing leaves divided into
five lobes. The flowers appear from
July to September, the calyx being
deep red, and the petals golden-yellow
with dark-coloured veins. (Lot. Mag.
t. 3714; FI. d. Serr. t. 452.)
T. umbellatum.—This Peruvian
species is remarkable for its large
tubers, which in a native condition
often weigh from 23} to 5 Ibs. The
zigzag climbing stems bear palmately
five-lobed leaves, and the red and
orange flowers are borne in umbels
at the ends of the shoots. (Bot.
Mag. t. 4337; Fl. d. Serr. t. 302.)
Frame or greenhouse.
T. violeflorum.—A distinct and
handsome Chilian species, having
leaves deeply cut into five more or
less bluntly lance-shaped lobes, and
flowers of sky-blue becoming paler
with age (Bot. Mag. t. 3985, as T.
azureum). Frame or greenhouse.
TULBAGHIA (after Governor 7'u/-
bagh (d. 1771) of 8. Africa). Nat. Ord.
Liliacez.—A genus containing about
a dozen species of garlic-smelling
herbaceous plants with rhizomatous
root - stocks, narrow strap - shaped
leaves, and more or less urn-shaped
flowers in umbels.
The Tulbaghias are easily grown in
a cold frame or -greenhouse, and if
massed in pots or pans are fairly
attractive when in flower. They
like a well-drained compost of
sandy loam and peat or leaf-soil in
equal proportions, and may be
increased by offsets or seeds.
All the species are natives of 8.
Africa, the following being best
known :—
T. alliacea.— Flowers greenish-
purple with a reddish corona, four to
five in an umbel on stems 9 to 18 ins,
436
TULIPA
high (Ref, Bot. t. 349; Bot. Mag. t.
3547).
T. capensis. — Flowers greenish -
purple, with an obscure purplish
deeply-cleft corona, borne in umbels
of six to eight on stems 13 to 2 ft.
high in June (Bot. Mag. t. 806, as 7.
alliacea).
T, natalensis,— This is closely
related to 7. allacea, but has
greenish-white fragrant flowers.
T, Simmleri,—This has ovoid bulbs,
strap-shaped bluntish leaves, and
small rosy flowers.
T, violacea.—F lowers violet-purple,
with a ligulate corona. From eight
to twenty flowers are borne in an
umbel about March and April on
stems 1 to 2 ft. high (Bot. Mag. t.
3555).
TULIPA (said to be from the
Turkish word twbend, a turban; in
reference to the shape of the flowers ;
or derived from the Persian name,
thoulyban). Nat. Ord. Liliaceee.—A
genus of beautiful herbaceous plants.
having tunicated brown - skinned
bulbs, broadish grey-green leaves,
and erect scapes usually ending in
one, but sometimes two or three to
seven bell-shaped or cup-like flowers,
having six distinct and _ highly
coloured petals,
With the possible exception of the
Daffodil, there is no bulbous plant
grown in so many hundreds of
thousands as the Tulip. It has been
cultivated for generations, and at the
present day is probably more popular
than ever. This is the case not only
in the British Islands, and on the
Continent, but also in America,
whither hundreds of thousands of
bulbs are now exported annually
from Europe. The kinds grown so
largely are all seedling generations of
the progeny of 7’. Gesneriana, which
was introduced from the Levant in
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
1577, and two years later was brought
from Constantinople to Augsburg by
Conrad Gesner. Some years previous
(im 1554) Busbecq, the Flemish
diplomatist, admired the Tulips in
the Turkish gardens, and it was no
doubt through his agency they first
became known in Western Europe.
The garden varieties are almost
innumerable, and many square miles
are devoted to their culture in
Holland. There is no reason, how-
ever, why Tulips should not be
grown commercially in parts of
England and Ireland in hundreds
of thousands, and experience has
proved that excellent bulbs can be
secured by attention to cultural
details,
The soil of Guernsey, and probably
that of Jersey also, is specially
adapted for the cultivation of Tulips,
Daffodils, Gladiolus, ete., in enormous
quantities, and many growers are
already aware of this fact.
It must be a poor soil indeed, in
which Tulips will not grow. Any
garden soil that has been deeply
dug, and contains a fair amount of
humus (well-decayed manure or leaf-
mould), will yield good results. The
great point is to avoid stagnant
moisture, and this can easily be done
by deep cultivation. On the whole
a rich sandy loam may be looked
upon as the ideal one for Tulips.
For open-air culture, the best time
to plant the bulbs is at the end of
August or September and during
October and November, each bulb
being placed about 6 ins. deep in the
soil, and about the same distance
apart. To secure a uniform ‘depth
of planting a bluntish dibber may
be used, the proper depth at which it
is to be pushed into the soil being
marked on it.
As there are early, mid-season, and
late-flowering varieties, and as each
437
TULIPA
group differs a good deal in height
and colour, better effects, as a rule,
are obtained by planting one or at
most two varieties in the same bed.
If all kinds are mixed together, the
result will be disappointing in formal
beds. In the mixed flower-border,
however, there is no reason why
mixtures should not be planted in
vacant spaces, and thus avoid the
formality of geometrical beds.
As a rule, warm, open situations
sheltered from bleak winds are best
for outdoor Tulips. They do not like
being under low-growing evergreen
trees or bushes, or under walls, or in
deep shade. They are children of the
vernal sun, and will display their
brilliant colours under its rays to the
best advantage.
In conjunction with Tulips, such
spring - fiowering plants as Poly-
anthuses, Forget-me-Nots, Wall-
flowers, Pansies, and Violas, Prim-
roses, Mossy Saxifrages, Silene
compacta, Double White Arabis,
Yellow Alyssum, and Aubrietias—
commonly known as Purple Rock
Cress—may be planted in autumn
over the Tulips and between the
rows. In this way a beautiful effect
of colour with one combination or
another may be secured in spring.
The only thing to bear in mind is not
to have two nearly similar colours in
the same bed. Thus Yellow Alyssum
would not look so well under yellow
Tulips as it would under red, white,
or purple ones, and so on with the
other plants mentioned.
In the early summer, when the
Tulip leaves have withered, the
bulbs may be lifted, cleaned, and
stored in a cool, open, airy place until
planting-time again comes round.
The best or first size bulbs should be
kept separate from the offsets of
second size ones, and the still smaller
offsets or spawn should be kept also
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
distinct from the others. It is not
essential to lift Tulips in this way,
but it is generally better to do so.
S
Fic. 331.—Tulip, section of bulb showing (a)
flower-stem which has absorbed old bulb;
and (6) the new bulbs forming as a result
of the aérial leaf-action.
It may perhaps be well to mention
that the bulbs taken out of the
ground in spring or early summer,
are not the ones that were planted
the previous autumn. They are
quite new, and the fact that they
develop so well in British gardens,
notwithstanding our peculiar winters,
is another argument in favour of
their cultivation. The sketch (Fig.
331) shows how the flower-stem
absorbs the bulb that is planted,
while new bulbs for the following
season are developed during the
growing season.
Garden Tulips may be divided into
groups as follows :—
I.—Earity Aanp Beppinc TvuLips.
This popular group has_ been
derived chiefly from T. suaveolens,
438
, a ee
TULIPA
a sweet-scented species from S,
Russia. The varieties have been
grouped according to their predomin-
ating colour, after the system adopted
by the author in his Practical Guide
to Garden Plants.
(a) Sengle- Flowering Early Tulips.
Scarlet, Rose, Crimson, and Pink
shades, — Adelaine, Artus, Bacchus,
Belle Alliance, Couleur de Cardinal,
Crimson King (Roi Cramoisi), De
Keyzer, Due van Thol (scarlet, rose, and
crimson shades), Dusart, Jules Janin,
La Riante, Le Matelas, Maas, Mir-
anda, Pottebakker (scarlet), Princess
Wilhelmina, Proserpine, Rachel
Ruisch, Rembrandt, Rosamundi Huyk-
man, Rose Aplatie, Rose Brillante,
Rose Lwisante, Rose de Provence, Rose
Gris de lin, Rose Queen, Rose Tendre,
Samson, Scarlet Beauty, Stanley
(Cramoisie pourpre), Van Berghem,
Vermilion Brilliant, Vesuvius.
Orange, Brownish, and Terra Cotta
shades.—Curdinal’s Hat, Command-
ant, Duc van Thol (orange), Leonardo
da Vinet, Prince of Austria, Thomas
Moore.
Yellow shades, — Bouton d'Or,
California, Canary Bird, Chrysolora,
Due WOrange, Gold Finch, Golden
Crown, King of the Yellows, Mon
Trésor, Ophir WOr, Pottebakker,
Prince de Ligny, Yellow Prince.
White, or Blush.—A/bion (White
Hawk), Alba regalis, Comte de Mira-
beau, Grootmeister van Maltha, Jacht
van Delft, Jacoba van Beyeren ( White
Swan), Jan Steen, Joost van Vondel,
La Laitiere, La Reine, L’ Immaculée,
Nelly, Pax alba, Pigeon, Pottebakker,
Princess Marianne, White Swan.
Purple and Violet shades.—F/eo-
nora, Moliére, Paul Moreelse, Potter,
Purple Crown, Van der Neer, Wouver-
man, Queen of the Violets (President
Lincoln).
Shades of Red, Rose, Pink, or
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
Violet, and White.—Admiral Reinier,
Alida Maria, Belle Lisette, Bride of
Haarlem, Cerise Gris de lin, Cameleon,
Cottage Maid, Couleur ponceau,
Donna Maria, Globe de Rigaut, Joost
van Vondel, Roi Pepin, Spaandonk,
Standard Royal (silver), Wapen van
Leiden, Zomerschoon.,
Red and Yellow.—Srutus, Duc de
Berlin, Duchesse de Parma, Duc
Major, Keizerskroon (Grand Duc),
Standard Royal (golden).
(b) Double-Flowering Tulips.
(Those marked with an asterisk (*)
are late-flowering.)
Scarlet and Crimson shades,—
Agnes, Imperator Rubrorum, Lady
Grandisson, Le Matador, * Peony Red,
Rex Rubrorum, Rose Crown, Rubra
maxima.
Pink and Rose shades.—Arabella,
Couronne des foses, Le Blason,
Lucretia, Murillo, Raphael, Rose
@Amour, Salvator Rosa.
White.—* Alba maxima, Blanche
hative, Grand Vainqueur, La Can-
deur, Rose Blanche, Murillo,
Red and Yellow.—Duc de Bor-
deaux, Duc van Thol, Gloria Solis,
Helianthus, *Peony Gold, Regina
Rubrorum, Titian, Tournesol, Velvet
Gem, Princess Alexandra.
Orange or Yellow shades,—
Couronne d’Or, Tournesol, Leonardo
da Viner, * Yellow Rose.
Various shades.— Bakker or Grown
Tournesol (brown and _ yellow),
Cousine and Turban Violet (violet),
Duke of York (carmine and white),
Gris de lin pale (violet and white),
Purple Crown (deep purple), Queen
Victoria (purple-red), Rosine (semi-
double pink), Welhelm IIT. (orange-
scarlet), Blue Flag (violet-blue), *Za
Belle Alliance (blue and white),
* Rhinoceros (rosy-violet).
White, with Red, Crimson, etc.,
439
TULIPA
shades.—*Cowronne impériale, Glori-
osa, Hercules, Mariage de ma fille.
II.—Darwin TuLips.
This name was first given to an
apparently new race of Tulips in the
year 1889—just eighty years after
the birth of the famous naturalist,
and no doubt in compliment to him,
as showing the mysterious powers of
the laws of evolution. These Darwin
Tulips are really self-coloured forms
of 7’. Gesneriana, and may be placed
in the same category as the “ Breeder”
or “Mother” Tulips from which the
“ Florists’ ” Tulips eventually break or
rectify. The flowers are large and
deeply cup-shaped, and are borne on
stout and sturdy stems 13 to 2 ft. or
more high, The blossoms appear in
May and last into June, and when
the bulbs have been planted in bold
masses, there is nothing so effective
in the garden in the early summer
than the Darwin Tulips. As cut
flowers they are also excellent, lasting
several days fresh in water. As to
colours, all shades except real blue
and yellow are represented, from
creamy-white through shades of pink,
rose, cerise, scarlet, vermilion, maroon,
mauve, apricot, to deep purple and
violet, and almost glossy purple-black.
The predominating colour is usually
toned down or up with shades of
another, the edges of the petals being
often paler incolour. There are many
varieties with names of more or less
fleeting popularity, but the older
ones are constantly dropping out,
being replaced by new ones. To
secure a collection of modern varieties,
the reader is therefore advised to
consult a current bulb catalogue.
What are now known as “Rem-
brandt” Tulips are broken’ or
rectified Darwin Tulips, somewhat
resembiing the Byblemens. The
petals, however, are not so feathered
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
and finely striped, but the combination
of colours is very charming. Names,
of course, have been given to some
of the best, but they are likely to
be of only fleeting interest. The
reader should therefore consult a
current bulb catalogue for the latest
developments.
Forcrne Turres.—During the win-
ter months several varieties of Tulip
are forced into early blossom in hot-
houses and warm greenhouses. The
bulbs are potted up in the autumn,
or placed in boxes, and covered with
a few inches of soil. About the end
of November some of the earlier
kinds, like the Scarlet Due Van Thol,
are first brought in to the heated
houses, but after Christmas until the
end of February and March, other
varieties are also used. Besides the
Due Van Thol, other sorts for forcing
are:—Canary Bird, Chrysolora,
Duchess of Parma, Golden Prince,
Joost van Vondel, La Reine, Potte-
bakker, Rose Gris de Lin, amongst
the singles, and La Candeur, Murillo,
Rex Rubrorum, etc., amongst the
doubles.
II].—Ftortists’ ok ENGuLisH TULIPS.
What are technically known as
“Florists’” Tulips are quite distinct
in a way from the other groups, such
as the Bedding, the Darwin, and the
Parrot Tulips, The bulbs are much
dearer, and are grown only by a small
but enthusiastic band composing the
National Tulip Society. Many years
ago the Florists’ Tulip was very
popular in England, “and almost
every village had its Tulip Society.
Now, however, there are very few
who retain the old love for producing
this particular class of Tulip, and
they are mostly confined to Lan-
cashire, Yorkshire, and Notts.”
The late Rev. F. D. Horner, a
successful and enthusiastic cultivator,
440
TULIPA
has defined a good Florists’ Tulip as
one having a round cup-shaped flower,
with a good shoulder, and petals level
at the top, neither reflexing outwards,
nor curving inwards at their upper
edges. The base of the cup inside
must be white or yellow, according
to the class, and free from any stain ;
and the filaments, upon which six
bold black anthers stand, must be
pure as the ground colour, The
petals should be smooth on the edge
and of good substance, that their
colours may appear dense, and the
flower keep its shape. Breadth of
petal is a most valuable property,
otherwise the flower, as it expands
and grows, would show strips of
daylight through the base of the
cup, a deadly fault known technically
as “quartering.” (Practical Guide to
Garden Plants.)
These Florists’ Tulips are originally
raised from seed, and at the end of
from four to seven years the first
flowers appear. These are always of
one colour, although the seeds from
which they were raised may have
been ripened in flowers beautifully
“flamed” and “feathered,” and with
two or three distinct colours, Such
seedling Tulips are called “ Breeder”
or “Mother” Tulips, and are similar
to what are now called “Darwin”
Tulips. In the course of time the
uniform colour becomes split up into
two or more colours. The flowers are
then said to “break” or “rectify.”
These “rectified” Tulips are divided
into two groups. (i.) those having a
pure white centre, base, or ground,
the purer the white the better; and
(ii.) those having a pure yellow one.
The “ white grounds” are also divided
into two sections ; (a) Roses, in which
the flowers may be of delicate pink,
rose, scarlet, cerise, crimson, and
intermediate shades ; and (b) Byble-
mens, in which the flowers may be
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
shades of pale lilac, lavender, violet,
brown, and black, and the deeper and
blacker the colours the better.
The “yellow ground ” Tulips consist
of one class only, called Azzarres, in
which the flowers may be orange,
scarlet, crimson, black, brown, ete.
All rectified Tulips, whether Roses,
Bybleemens, or Sizarres, have the
petals either “feathered ” or “ flamed.”
As stated in the Practical Guide to
Garden Plants, a “feathered” Tulip
is one in which the colour is beauti-
fully pencilled and feathered round
the edges only of each petal, thus
producing a light and graceful effect.
When the feathering is_ broken,
splashed, or confused, it is a defect.
A “flamed” Tulip is_ beautifully
pencilled like the feathered group,
but is distinguished from it by
having strong and brilliant streaks,
bands, or flames of a distinct colour
shooting up the centre from near the
base, and forking out towards each
feathered edge. The “flaming” and
“feathering” should be well blended,
but always leaving the ground colour
pure and clear between them.
In each group there are several
varieties, particulars of which, as to
shades of colour, may be obtained
from current catalogues.
IV.—Parrot oR DRacon TULIPS.
These curious-looking and remark-
able Tulips are believed to be derived
from 7’. viridiflora, a curious green
and yellow striped form of 7. Ges-
neriana. The garden forms have
briiliant shades of scarlet, and yellow
mixed with green, slashed and cut
into all kinds of curious shapes.
Unfortunately the stalks are rather
weak, and in windy seasons the
flowers are much blown about if not
supported by slender stakes.
The following are the principal
varieties: Admiraal van Constanti-
44]
TULIPA
nope!, glossy red, shaded and tipped
with orange; Awrantiacum, fine
orange; Café Lrulée, dark brown ;
Couleur de Café (Coffee Colour),
brown and deep yellow; Crimson
Beauty, deep crimson, with black
markings; Fire King, dark scarlet,
striped gold; Lutea Major, yellow,
fine; Perfecta, yellow and scarlet ;
Rubra et Lutea, red and yellow;
Rubra Major, scarlet, extra fine,
true.
V.—NATURAL SPECIES oF TULIPS.
Besides the garden forms mentioned
above, some attention has been given
of late years to the cultivation of
natural species of Tulips. Some
kinds like 7’. Gesneriana, T. Greigi,
T. Oculis-Solis, T. macrospeila, T.
suaveolens, etc., are fairly common,
but the others are not so well known.
The short descriptions below will
serve to identify them.
T. acuminata (7. cornuta),.—A
curious species of unknown origin,
easily recognised by its long, narrow-
pointed segments, the flowers being
red, yellow, and speckled (Red. Lil.
t. 445 ; Bot. Reg. t. 127).
T, Alberti.—A native of Turkestan
about 2 ft. high, with grey-green
wavy leaves, and orange - scarlet
flowers 2 ins. deep, faintly blotched
with reddish-brown (Bot. Mag. t.
6761 ; Gartenfi. t. 912).
T. altaica.—A native of the Altai
Mountains at an elevation of 1000
to 6000 ft., usually having three
lance-shaped leaves and carmine-red
flowers with a yellow centre, borne in
April on downy stalks 3 to 4 ins, high
(Gartenfl. t. 942).
T. australis (7. Breyniana; T.
Celsiana).—A native of 8.W. Europe,
closely related to our Wild Tulip 7’,
sylvestris, but readily distinguished
by its dwarf habit, star-shaped yellow
flowers flushed with red, and broad
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
and somewhat reflexed leaves (Bot.
Mag. t. ‘717; Red. Int, +. 38). 7
triphylla, from ‘Turkestan, with
greenish - yellow flowers, is closely
related, as is also 7. humilis, from
Persia, with pale yellow flowers tinged
with red outside.
T. Batalini.—A dwarf species from
Buchara, 4 to 8 ins. high, with
prostrate leaves and creamy-yellow
Fic. 332.—Tulipa Batalint. (4.)
flowers about 3 ins, deep, having a
thin line of red or crimson on the
extreme edge of the petals (Garten/fl.
t. 1307; Gard. Chron. June 1896,
759, f.).
T. biflora.—A Caucasian Tulip,
chiefly remarkable for producing
clusters of two to five creamy-white
flowers with a yellow centre and
tinged with green outside, on a stalk
3 to 6 ins. long (Bot. Mag. t. 6518 ;
Bot. Reg. t. 535 ; Gartenfi. t. 239).
T, Billietiana.—A native of the
Swiss Alps, with oval lance-shaped
442
TULIPA
wavy leaves
flowers tinged with orange-red (Bot.
Mag. t. 7253).
T, Borszczowi (pronounced “ Bor-
shovi”).—A native of Central Asia,
about 1 ft. high, with handsome
flowers remarkable for having the
three inner petals of a bright golden-
yellow on both sides, while the three
outer petals are yellow inside, but
bright red outside with a distinct
yellow edging (Bot. Mag. t. 6635;
Gartenjl. t. 1175). There is a yellow
form without any blotches at the
base.
T. brachystemon,—This species
from Turkestan is close to 7’, Kessel-
ringi, but has smaller yellow flowers
with more pointed petals (Gartenfi.
t. 1099, f. 2).
T, chrysantha,—A distinct species
from Persia and Western Asia. It
has small yellow flowers, and wavy
leaves with cartilaginous margins.
T, Clusiana.—This fine species
from §. France is known as the
“Lady” Tulip. It has rosy flowers,
white inside, with a deep purple or
violet centre. (Bot. Mag. t. 1390.)
T. Dammanniana,.—A native of
Mount Lebanon, having narrow
lance-shaped leaves with hairy edges,
and scarlet or purple-red flowers
with a blackish base (Gartenjl. t.
1300, f. 1).
T. dasystemon.—A dwarf species
with shining leaves, several white
and yellow flowers being produced
in succession from a single stem
(Gard. Chron. 1905, xxxvil. 268).
T. Didieri.— A pretty South
European species, having crimson
flowers with a blue-black centre
and yellowish-white margins (Bot.
Mag. t. 6639). There are several
forms, including a yellow and white
flowered one,
T, Hichleri.—A beautiful species
from the Caucasus, having broad
‘THE BULB BOOK
and bright yellow leaves
TULIPA
and’ large’ bright scarlet
flowers having a black centre, and
sometimes edged with yellow (Bot.
Mag. t. 6191 ; Gartenji. t. 799).
T, elegans,—This is considered a
probable hybrid between 7’. acum-
inata and 7’. suaveolens. It has
bright red or carmine flowers with
a yellow centre, the segments being
reflexed and tapering. (Garden,
1887, ii. t. 626.)
T, Elwesi.—A Persian species 6 to
9 ins. high, having bright scarlet
flowers edged with yellow, and hav-
ing a small black blotch at the base
(Gartenfl. t. 1147).
T. Fosteriana.—This species has
flowers of a brilliant crimson blotched
at the base (Gard. Chron. 1905,
XXXVvii, 268).
T. galatica—A fine Tulip with
broad wavy leaves, and large lemon-
Fic. 833.—Tulipa galatica. (}.)
or straw-yellow flowers about 2 ins.
deep, and of the shape shown in
sketch. The flowers appear in May.
T. Gesneriana.—This fine but
443
TULIPA
variable species is widely distributed
from Italy to Asia Minor. It has
broad ovate lance-shaped leaves, and
sweet-scented bright scarlet flowers
with a blackish centre. (Sot. Reg.
tt. 46, 380.) This is the parent of
most of the Garden Tulips. The
variety fulgens has a yellow instead
of a blackish centre ; spathulata has
brilliant red flowers with a purple-
black base ; and wiolacea has reddish-
violet flowers with a blue-black base.
T. Schrencki, from Turkestan, with
bright crimson flowers, having a
black blotch at the base is a distinct
variety,considered by some authorities
to be the parent of the Scarlet Duc
Van Thol Tulips. (See 7. swaveolens.)
T. Greigi—A fine species from
Turkestan, easily recognised by its
pale or grey green leaves, being
heavily blotched with purple-brown.
The large fiery red _ bell-shaped
flowers have a blackish base with
a yellow zone. (Bot. Mag. t. 6177;
Gartenfl. t. 773; Fl. d. Serr. t.
2261.) There are several forms, one
called aurea, having yellow flowers
with a reddish centre, and aba, hay-
ing white margins.
T. Haageri—A native of Asia
Minor about 9 ins. high, with cherry-
red flowers often tinged with yellow
outside, and a_ blue-black centre
bordered with yellow within (Bot.
Mag. t. 6242; Gartenfl. t. 790;
Lelg. Hort. 1877, t. 2). The variety
nitens is much finer than the type,
having flowers 3 ins. across, bright
orange-red, black at the base, and
flushed with grey and bronze outside
(Gard. Chron. 1903, xxxill. 305;
Gard. 1903, lxiii. 293, 325, 372, f.).
T. iliensis.—A native of Turkestan
about 6 ins, high, with narrow leaves
and citron-yellow flowers (Dot. Mag.
t. 6518, B.; Gartenfl. tt. 975, 982).
T. ingens.—A native of Bokhara,
having bright scarlet - vermilion
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
flowers with a conspicuous black blotch
at the base, the outer segments
having a broad yellowish band outside
(Gard. Chron. 1902, xxxii. 14, f. 7).
T. Kaufmanniana.—A beautiful
Tulip, 8 to 12 ins. high, from Turkes-
tan, with grey-green leaves developed
after the large bright carmine flowers
edged with white are produced. The
inner surface of the perianth seg-
ments is pearly white, with a bright
yellow base bordered with crimson.
(Bot. Mag. t. 6887; Gartenfl. t. 906,
f. 6-10.) There are a few forms or
variations of this species sometimes
seen, that known as pulcherrima
being probably a hybrid between it
and 7’. Greigi. The variety awreu
has yellow margins ; and coccinea has
vivid scarlet flowers with a clear
yellow base.
T, Kesselringi,—A native of Turke-
stan with narrow channelled grey-
green leaves and_ bright yellow
flowers about 2 ins. deep, the three
outer segments being suffused with
reddish-brown outside (Bot. Mag.
t. 6754; Gartenjl. t. 964). ‘
T. Kolpakowskyana.—A_ pretty
species also from Turkestan, with
deeply channelled lance-shaped leaves
about 1 ft. long, having minutely
ciliated margins. The scapes are
1 to 2 ft. high, each bearing a large
handsome flower 2 to 3 ins. deep,
variable in colour, being sometimes
bright red with a black centre and
purple-black stamens, sometimes
yellow flushed with red outside, and
sometimes pure yellow with a
blackish centre and yellow anthers
and filaments. (ot. Mag. t. 6710;
Gartenfl. t. 951; Garden, 1891, t.
819.)
T. Korolkowi.—This is a native of
the deserts between Khiva and Tash-
kend, and is related to 7. Hichleri,
but has smaller flowers of a dazzling
red, with a black blotch at the base.
444
TULIPA
T. lanata.—A native of Asia Minor,
about 8 to 12 ins, high, having
brilliant crimson flowers, the seg-
ments of which are furnished with
a woolly tip—hence the specific
name.
T, Leichtlini—A distinct and
pretty species from Kashmir, about
18 ins. high, the three inner segments
of the perianth being yellowish-white
and much shorter and blunter than
the outer ones, which are of a bright
purple or coral-red, edged with white
(Garden, 1891, t. 819).
T, linifolia,—A species from
Central Asia, recognised by its
narrow grey-green very wavy leaves
and glowing scarlet flowers with a
black centre, borne on scapes 6 to 8
ins. high,
T. Lownei.—A Syrian Tulip with
yellow-green leaves and bright lilac
flowers, the segments of which are
marked at the base with a broad
bright yellow stain (Gard. 1899, lvi.
155).
T, macrospeila.—A fine Tulip,
probably a hybrid between 7’, Ges-
neriana and some other species, It
is like Gesneriana in habit, and has
large fragrant crimson flowers 3 to 4
ins. deep, the broad bluntish segments
each having a blackish wedge-shaped
blotch bordered with yellowish-white
at the base.
T. maculata.—Another kind of
garden origin, resembling 7’, Gesnerz-
ana, and having bright crimson-red
flowers with a black centre, borne
on downy stalks.
T. maleolens, from Italy, is similar,
but has unpleasant-smelling flowers.
T. Maximowiczi.—A rare species
from Bokhara, related to 7’. linifolia,
and having the stems furnished with
alternate linear leaves, the margins
of which are red and minutely hairy,
The fine purple-red or bright crimson
flowers have a dark blotch bordered
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
with white at the base:
1307; Gard. Chron.
EY ASS)
T. Micheliana.—A Persian Tulip
with leaves like those of 7. Greig,
and large red flowers with a black
basal blotch broadly edged with
yellow.
T,. montana.—This species is distri-
buted from Armenia to Afghanistan,
and is remarkable for the dense
wool which covers the interior of the
bulb coats. It flowers as late as July,
the blooms being of a bright carmine-
red with a blackish centre. (ot.
Reg. t. 1106.)
T. nitida.—A dwarf species from
Bokhara resembling 7. Korolkowz.
Flowers about 2 ins. deep, bright
vermilion-scarlet, with a black base.
(Gard, Chron, 1902, xxxi, 350, f. 119 ;
Gard. 1903, Ixiv. 40.)
T. Oculis-solis.—A fine Tulip from
S. France, with bright red flowers 2
to 3 ins. deep, having a large black
blotch bordered with yellow at the base
(Red. Inil. t. 219; Bot. Reg. tt. 204,
1143, 1419 (the variety precoz)).
T, Orphanidea,—A native of
Greece, with stalks 1 to 2 ft. high,
bearing bright yellow flowers with
pointed petals flushed outside with
red (Bot. Mag. t. 6310; Gartenfi. t.
373).
T Ostrowskyana,—This species
from Turkestan is closely related
to 7. Oculis-solis. It has narrow
lance-shaped leaves and bright red
flowers with a blackish base. (Bot.
Mag. t. 6895; Gartenjl. t. 1144, f.
1-2; Garden, 1894, ii. t. 965.) Fig.
334.
T. patens (7’. tricolor).—A Siberian
Tulip, having oblong funnel-shaped
whitish flowers with a yellow base
(Gartenfl. t. 827; Lot. Mag. t. 3887).
T. persica,—A Persian Tulip with
deep green narrow leaves edged with
red, and scapes 6 to 9 ins. high, often
(Garten/fi. t.
June 1896,
445
TULIPA
bearing more than one sweet-scented
flower, the interior of which is bright
yellow, the outside being golden
bronze.
Fic. 334.—Tulipa Ostrowskyana. (4.)
T. precox.—A native of Central
Europe, having strong stems 1 to 14
ft. high, and conical flowers of a
bright red inside, greenish yellow at
the base with a blackish-violet blotch
(Bot, Reg. t. 380, as 7. Gesneriana),.
T. prestans.— An early-flowering
Tulip from Bokhara, close to 7’.
Kaufmanniana and 7. suaveolens.
The roundish bulbs have a very thick
parchment-like skin. The leaves and
flower-stems are covered with minute
white hairs. Flowers light scarlet-
vermilion with a yellow base. The
flowers are borne singly or in clusters
of six to ten ona single scape. (Bot.
Mag. t. 7920; Gard. Chron. 1903,
XxXXili, 239, 324, 364, f. 126.)
T, primulina,—A native of Eastern
Algeria, somewhat like 7’, sylvestris,
It hasnarrow leaves and sweet-scented
bell-shaped primrose - yellow flowers
about an inch deep, the outer seg-
ments being tinged with red outside,
while the stamens are densely hairy
at the base. (Sot. Mag. t. 6785.)
THE BULB BOOK
TULIPA
T, pulchella,—A pretty dwarf
Tulip from the Cilician Taurus, with
narrow channelled leaves about 3 ins,
long, and slender scapes only an inch
or two high. The funnel-shaped
flowers are rose, mauve, or lilac, with
a yellow base, and very hairy whitish
filaments. (Dot. Mag. t. 6304.) .
T. retroflexa,— This attractive
Tulip is thought to be a hybrid
between 7’. acuminata and 7’. Gesneri-
ana, The stems are 1} to 2 ft, high,
bearing a bright yellow flower about
3 ins, deep. (Garden, 1887, ii. t. 626.)
T. saxatilis—A native of Crete,
having bright shining green leaves,
unlike those of most Tulips. The
scapes are 9 to 12 ins, high, with
a pale magenta flower having a deep
yellow base. (Bot. Mag. t. 6374.)
T, Sintenesi.—A curious Armenian
species, having flattish leaves and
red or scarlet flowers covered with
a “bloom,” and having a black blotch
at the base (Bot. Mag. t. 7193).
T. Sprengeri.—Another Armenian
species, closely related to 7. Haageri.
It has fine glowing scarlet flowers
without a blotch at the base, borne
on scapes about 18 ins, high, from
the middle to the end of June.
T, stellata, from the N.W. Hima-
layas, is closely related to 7’. Clusiana.
It has whitish or pale yellow flowers
without a blotch at the base. (Bot.
Mag. t. 2672.)
T, suaveolens.—This fine species is
a native of S. Russia, and is con-
sidered to be the parent of the early
red and orange Due Van Thol
Tulips. It has broad leaves, and the
sweet-scented bright scarlet, yellow-
edged flowers are borne on scapes
about 6 ins. high. (Dot. Mag. t. 839 ;
Fl. d. Serr, t. 1223.) The variety
plurijlora has two flowers on a stem.
T. sylvestris.—This species is ad-
mitted as a doubtful native of
Britain, and is found in chalk-pits
446
TULIPA
and waste ground in various parts
of England. It has narrow grey-
green leaves 6 to 10 ins. long, and
bright yellow sweet-scented flowers
on stems 1 to2 ft. high. (Bot. Mag.
t. 1202; Rev. Hort. t. 165.) 7.
Biebersteiniana, T. fragrans, and
T. strangulata are considered to be
forms or geographical variations of
T. sylvestris.
T, triphylla.—A native of Central
Asia, having three to four narrow
sickle-shaped leaves, and bright
citron-yellow flowers tinted with
green on the outside (Bot. Mag. t.
6459; Gartenjl. t. 942). The variety
Hoeltzeri has the three outer petals
yellow and purple. (Gartenjl. t.
1144, f. 3-4, a. B.).
T. Tubergeniana.—A native of
Bokhara, having large rich orange-
crimson flowers with a dark blotch
at the base of the very broad and
somewhat sharply-pointed segments
(Gard. Chron. 1904, xxxv. 258, f.;
Flora and Sylva, April 1905).
T. turkestanica.—A native of
Turkestan, closely related to 7.
bijlora, having lance-shaped curved
leaves and often two white flowers
about 13 ins. across, with a yellow
centre (Gartenji. t. 1050, f. 2).
T. undulatifolia.—A handsome
Tulip from Asia Minor, having grey-
green narrow lance-shaped wavy
leaves, and scapes 6 to 9 ins. high,
with a bright crimson bell-shaped
flower washed with green outside,
and having a black centre with a
yellow ring. Some forms have
yellow centres and flatter, less wavy
leaves. (Bot. Mag. t. 6308.)
T. uniflora.—A Tulip from the
Altai Mountains, having pale yellow
flowers borne on slender scapes, about
the middle of which are a pair of
lance-shaped leaves (Gartenjl. t. 906,
f. 25; Sw. Br. Fl. Gard. Serr. ii.
t. 336).
THE BULB BOOK
TUPISTRA
T, violacea.—A Persian species
near 7’. Clusiana, but with narrower
leaves and smaller flowers of a
brilliant deep carmine with a black
base, and borne on stems about 6
ins. high. It is one of the first
Tulips to flower in the open. (Bot.
Mag. t. 7440.)
T. viridifiora.—A curious form of
T. Gesneriana, having large greenish
or greenish-yellow flowers striped
and banded with yellow. It is
supposed to be the parent of the
Parrot or Dragon Tulips.
T. vitellina.—This is considered
to be a hybrid between 7’. Gesneriana
and 7. suaveolens. It has large
flowers of a delicate whitish or
butter-like yellow. (Garden, 1889,
li. t. 730.)
T. Wilsoniana,—A Persian species
with wavy red-edged leaves, very
bright red flowers without a basal
blotch or only a very small one, and
red filaments with golden anthers.
The bulbs bear a mass of protruding
woolly hairs. (Gard. Chron. 1901,
xxix, 327, f. 121.)
DisEasEs, — Tulips are sometimes
afflicted with a fungus (Sclerotinia
parasitica) which forms olive brown
velvety patches on the stems, leaves,
and flowers. Diseased plants should
be taken up and burned at once, and
the soil should be well dressed with
slaked lime and flowers of sulphur
to prevent the spread of the fungus,
TUPISTRA (fupis, a mallet; in
reference to the form of the stigma).
Nat. Ord. Liliacee.—A small genus
closely related to Aspidistra, consist-
ing of hothouse herbaceous perennials,
having thickish or tuberous root-
stocks, large leaves, and stalkless
flowers in dense cylindrical spikes.
All the species grow in rich loamy
soil, and require plenty of heat and
moisture during growth. The winter
447
TYPHONIUM
temperature should not go below 55°
to 60° F.
T, Clarkei.—A native of Sikkim,
with thick creeping rhizomes,
oblanceolate glossy leaves 4 ft.
long and over 4 ins. broad on stiffish
erect stalks. Flowers dull reddish-
purple inside, at first green outside
with purple margins, but entirely
buff later on. (Bot. Mag. t. 7957.)
Other species are T. macrostigma,
dark purple (Sot. Mag. t. 6280) ; and
T, squalida, dull violet (Bot. Mag.
tt. 1655, 3054),
TYPHONIUM (after TZyphon, a
monster with 100 snakes’ heads, The
plants are used to cure snake-bites
in the East). Nat. Ord. Aroidez.
—A genus containing over a dozen
species of tuberous-rooted herbs
having long-stalked Arum-like leaves
cut into three to five lobes in some
species.
T. giganteum Giraldi—A native
of the moist places in the light woods
of N. China, where it was discovered
by Fr. Giraldi. It has large roundish
tubers and broad, bright green, wavy,
thick-ribbed leaves with speckled
stalks. The peduncle, which is also
speckled, bears a large, more or less
constricted spathe 8 to 10 ins. long,
and of a deep purple colour tinged
with olive. The cylindrical blackish
spadix in the centre is very con-
spicuous. (Gard. Chron. 30th August
1902, 150, f.)
This species having been proved
hardy in Sweden, should prove an
acquisition to the hardy Aroids in
the British Islands. Other species,
however, require a warm greenhouse
or stove temperature. Father Gir-
aldi’s variety of 7’. giganteum might
be grown in well-drained gritty soil,
and is apparently easily increased
from seeds, or by offsets from the
tubers.
THE BULB BOOK
URCEOLINA
URCEOCHARIS (made up from
Urceolina and Fucharis), Nat. Ord.
Amaryllidez.—This title represents
an interesting bi- generic hybrid
between Uvceolina pendula and
Bucharis grandiflora, known under
the name of U. Clibrant. It is
intermediate between its parents in
almost every particular, and has
white-stalked flowers in trusses on
top of the stem. (Gard. Chron, 1892,
1. f.36 ; Journ. Hort. 1893, xxvi. f. 38).
This plant is still very rare. It
will flourish in a warm greenhouse,
in a compost of rich sandy loam and
leaf-soil, with a little well-decayed
cow-manure.
URCEOLINA (urceolus, a little urn
or pitcher ; in reference to the shape
of the flowers). Nat. Ord. Amaryl-
lidee.—This genus consists of the
three species mentioned below. They
are herbaceous plants with tunicated
bulbs 1 to 2 ins. in diameter, thin
stalked oblong or lance-shaped leaves,
and umbels of urn-shaped flowers
drooping from the top of a fleshy
leafless scape.
The Urceolinas are natives of the
Andes of Peru and _ Bolivia, one
species, U7, miniata, being found at an
altitude of 10,000 ft. They are easily
grown in a cool or slightly warm
greenhouse, and may be potted in a
compost of rich sandy loam and leaf-
soil. Growth commences in spring,
and a fair amount of moisture is
necessary at the root, until the plants
show signs of going to rest in the
autumn and winter. Then the bulbs
are kept dry and cool until they
show signs of life again in spring.
They may be shaken out of the old
soil and repotted, or some of the old
soil may be removed from the top,
and replaced with fresh compost.
Offsets are the simplest method of
increase,
448
URCEOLINA
U. latifolia (Leperiza latifolia).—
This species has leaves about 9 ins.
long, and 4 to 5 ins. broad without
the stalks, and six to eight bright
yellow flowers tipped with green
during the summer months (Sot.
Mag. t. 4592).
U. miniata (Pentlandia miniata).—
The leaves about 1 ft. long, and 1 to
14 ins. broad, are produced after the
flowers. These are bright scarlet,
not tipped with green, two to six
drooping from a scape 1 to 14 ft.
high. (Bot. Reg. 1839, t. 68.)
U. pendula (U. aurea), the
Drooping Urn Flower.—This is the
best-known species. It has oblong
pointed leaves a foot or more long
Fic. 335.—Urceolina pendula. (3.)
and 4 or 5 ins. broad, and bright
yellow flowers tipped with green,
drooping from a scape a foot or more
high (Bot. Mag. t. 5464). The
variety jfulva has shorter leaves,
more rounded at the base, and much
smaller flowers than the type.
449
THE BULB BOOK
URGINEA
URGINEA (from Ben Urgin, the
name of an Arab tribe). Nat. Ord.
Liliacez.—A genus containing about
twenty-five species of bulbous plants,
having strap-shaped or narrow leaves,
and starry or bell-shaped six-parted
flowers borne in erect trusses.
The species mentioned below are
all natives of 8. Africa, except when
otherwise stated, and although not
strictly hardy, may be grown during
the summer months in the open air
in the milder parts of the country.
They are, however, chiefly grown in
pots in greenhouses, and are only of
botanical or economic interest. A
sandy loam suits them, and stock is
increased by offsets.
U. altissima (Drimia altissima).—
A species having roundish bulbs 4 to 6
ins. through, broadly lance - shaped
leaves 12 to 18 ins. long, and whitish
flowers, keeled with purple in dense
trusses on stems 2 to 3 ft. high (Bot.
Mag. t. 1074).
U. exuviata.—A plant with bulbs
about 1 to 2 ins. through, roundish
flexuose leaves, 1 to 2 ins. long, and
trusses of whitish flowers veined with
purple (Bot. Mag. t. 871).
U. filifolia (Albuca jilifolia).—This
species has bulbs about 1 in. in
diameter, thread-like wavy leaves,
and whitish flowers keeled with
purple on slender stems 6 to 12
ins. high (Bot. Reg. t. 557).
U. maritima (UV. Scz//a), SEA ONION
Squitt.—A native of the Mediter-
ranean region, having large ovoid
bulbs 4 to 6 ins. in diameter, and
grey-green lance-shaped fleshy leaves.
Flowers whitish keeled with greenish-
purple, borne in dense trusses a foot
long, on reddish stems 3 to 5 ft. high.
(Bot. Mag. t. 918 ; Red. Lil. t. 116.)
The bulbs of this species supply
the Squills of commerce. They
contain a very acrid juice which will
blister the fingers, whilst the vapour
2F
UVULARIA
arising from it often irritates the eyes
and nose.
UVULARIA (wvula, from wa, a
small bunch of grapes ; in reference
to the arrangements of the fruits or
seed-pods), BreLttwort. Nat. Ord.
Liliacee.—A small genus of hardy
herbaceous perennials with thickish
creeping root - stocks, stalkless or
perfoliate leaves, and bell - shaped
flowers drooping from the tips of
the shoots.
The Uvularias or Bellworts are
natives of N. America, and are
perfectly hardy. They flourish in
sandy peaty soil, and may be
increased by division of the root-
stocks in autumn, but may also be
raised from seeds. When grown in
bold masses in the rockery or garden
they look very graceful.
U. grandiflora. — A pretty plant
1 to 2 ft. high, having smooth
perfoliate leaves 2 to 4 ins. long, and
pale yellow flowers about May and
June (Bot, Mag. t. 1112).
U. perfoliata.—This is similar in
appearance to U. grandiflora, but
has rather longer leaves and smaller
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 955).
U. puberula.—This species has
oblong pointed stalkless leaves 2 to 3
ins. long, fringed with hairs on the
margins, and yellowish flowers from
the ends of the shoots and the axils
of the upper leaves (Lodd. Bot. Cab.
t. 1260).
U. sessilifolia is somewhat similar
to the others, but has oblong pointed
stalkless leaves of a membranous
texture (Bot. Mag. t. 1402).
VALLOTA (after P. Vallot, a
French botanist), Nat. Ord, Amaryl-
lidee.—The only member of the
genus is—
V. purpurea (Amaryllis purpurea ;
A, speciosa).—A charming 8. African
plant well known under the popular
THE BULB BOOK
VALLOTA
name of “Scarborough Lily.” It
has large ovoid bulbs, strap-shaped
bright green leaves 18 to 24 ins. long,
and six to nine bright scarlet funnel-
shaped flowers on the top of a hollow
fleshy scape 2 to 3 ft. high. (Bot,
Mag. t. 1430).
Fic. 336.—Valotta purpurea. (}4.)
There are several varieties, the best
being eximia, with white-centred
flowers 4 ins. across; and magnijica,
very similar, but more vigorous.
The Scarborough Lily may be
grown out of doors during the
summer months in the milder parts
of the Kingdom. It is, however,
generally grown in pots in the
greenhouse, and flourishes in rich
sandy loam and leaf-mould. When
the bulbs are well established, they
throw up their brilliant flowers every
year, and if the plants have not had
too much heat, they will last quite a
long time in blossom in a _ cool
drawing-room. Increased by offsets.
Hybrids are said to have been
raised by crossing Vallota with Hip-
peastrum—a very likely proceeding,
450
VELTHEIMIA
VELTHEIMIA (after Count Aug.
Ferd. Veltheim (1741 to 1801), a
patron of botany). Nat. Ord. Liliacez.
—A small genus of 8. African bulbous
plants having fleshy wavy leaves,
and erect oblong-conical trusses of
drooping, cylindrical flowers.
They are almost hardy in the
mildest parts of the Kingdom, and
may be grown in the open air at any
rate during the summer months.
They flourish in rich light sandy soil
with a little leaf-mould or well-
decayed manure, and may be easily
increased by offsets, or by well-
ripened leaves inserted in sandy soil
to produce new bulbs at the base.
V. glauca.—A pretty plant with
grey-green wavy leaves, and trusses
of red or yellow spotted flowers borne
on scapes a foot or more high (Jot.
Mag. tt. 1091, 3456).
Fic. 837.—Veltheimia viridiflora. (4.)
V. viridiflora (V. capensis).—This
is the best-known species. It has
THE BULB BOOK
VERATRUM
tufts or rosettes of strap-shaped wavy
leaves 9 to 12 ins. long, and scapes
1 to 14 ft. high, bearing from forty to
sixty reddish-yellow spotted flowers
in summer. (Bot. Mag. t. 501; Red.
Lil. t. 186.)
VERATRUM (vere, truly; ater,
atrum, black; in reference to the
colour of the roots), FALsE or WHITE
HELLEBORE. Nat. Ord. Liliaceze.—A
genus of distinct herbaceous peren-
nials having thickish poisonous root-
stocks, strongly veined or plaited
leaves, and branched trusses of starry
six-parted flowers.
The Veratrums are bold and orna-
mental-looking plants in the border
or rockery, They like a rich and
well-manured loamy soil, and more
or less shaded positions, and may
be increased by division of the root-
stocks in autumn or spring. They
may also be raised from seeds, but
this is a slow process, several years
often elapsing before flowering plants
are obtained.
V. album (White Hellebore).—A
noble-looking perennial 3 to 5 ft.
high, from the Caucasus and Altai
Mountains. It has large stalkless,
broadly oval, plaited leaves a foot or
more long, and whitish flowers
tinged with green outside, borne in
dense trusses on stems 1 to 2 ft, high
in July. (Red. Lil. t. 447.) The
variety Lobelianum has wholly
greenish flowers; and the variety
viride (or Helonias viride), from
N. America, also has greenish
flowers with lance-shaped petals (Bot.
Mag. t. 1096).
V. californicum.—A Californian
species 5 to 6 ft. high, having branched
panicles of greenish- white flowers
(Gard. Chron. 1900, xxviii. 22).
V. Maacki.—A Siberian species
about 2 ft. high, having lance-shaped
leaves about 6 ins, long, and dark
451
WACHENDORFIA
purple flowers with a blackish base
borne in loose panicles in July
(Gartenjl. t. 1070).
V. nigrum,—An ornamental plant
2 to 3 ft. high, somewhat swollen at
the base, and having oblong plaited
leaves about 1 ft. long, and 6 to 8 ins.
broad. The blackish-purple flowers
are borne in June in dense racemes
lto3ft. high. (Bot. Mag. t. 963.)
V. Wiedemannianum,—A native
of Kurdistan, having flowers of indigo-
blue, fading to purple-lilac.
WACHENDORFIA (after LZ. J.
Wachendorf, a Dutch botanist). Nat,
Ord. Hemodoracee.—A genus with
seven species of tuberous-rooted
perennials having sword-shaped or
rarely linear leaves, sometimes large
and more or less plaited. Flowers
yellow, in terminal and often hairy
panicles or trusses, All natives of
S. Africa.
The Wachendorfias flourish in
sandy peat, loam, and leaf-soil, but
can be regarded as hardy only in the
mildest parts of the Kingdom. In
severe winters they should be pro-
tected from frost and cold rains by
means of hand-lights, bracken, ete.
They may be increased by division
of the tuberous roots in spring as
growth is commencing, or by seeds
sown in cold frames or gentle heat
when ripe.
W. brevifolia grows about 1 ft.
high, has lance-shaped plaited leaves,
and crimson flowers tinged with
yellow and softly hairy outside (Zot.
Mag. t. 1116).
W. hirsuta.—A downy plant about
18 ins. high, with three-nerved
narrow sword-shaped leaves, and
reddish flowers becoming golden-
yellow when fully open (Lot. Mag.
t. 614).
W. paniculata,—This grows about
18 ins, high, and has three-nerved
THE BULB BOOK
WATSONIA
sword-like leaves and golden-yellow
flowers in panicles (Bot. Mag. tt.
616, 1060 (pallida) ).
W. thyrsiflora.—A species about
2 ft. high with broad sword-shaped
plaited leaves, The yellow flowers,
with six lance-shaped acute seg-
ments, appear in early summer, in
loose erect racemes. (Bot. Mag. t.
1060.)
WATSONIA (after W. Watson, a
London apothecary), Bucie Lity.
Nat, Ord. Irideze.—A genus of beauti-
ful §. African herbaceous plants,
having fibrous-coated corms, sword-
shaped leaves, and tall spikes of
tubular bell-shaped flowers.
The Watsonias may be grown in
the open air during the summer
months from the Midlands south-
wards, and should be planted in
warm, sunny, and sheltered spots,
In other localities it is safer to grow
them in frames or greenhouses. In-
deed this is how they are often
cultivated. They like a rich sandy
loam with a little leaf-soil, peat, or
well-decayed manure, whether grown
in pots or in the border, During
growth the roots should have plenty
of moisture, but when at rest no
water should be given. In the
autumn the corms of outdoor plants
should be lifted before severe frosts
set in, and may be stored in frost-
proof places until April and May.
The plants may be increased by off-
sets and by seeds,
W. aletroides(Antholyzaaletroides).
—A. pretty species 2 to 3 ft. high,
having thickish, narrow, sword-like
leaves, and spikes of scarlet flowers
in June and July (Bot. Mag. tt. 441,
533),
Ww. angusta (W. iridifolia).—This
species has narrow lance-shaped
leaves in two rows, and from eight
to twenty-four scarlet flowers in a
452
WATSONIA
spike (Bot. Mag. t. 600; Ll. d. Serr.
t. 107).
Fia. 338.—Watsonia angusta.
W. brevifolia has narrow, pointed,
distichous leaves, those on the stems
being spathe-like. The scarlet flowers
appear about May and June in one
or two rows on the spikes. (Sot.
Mag. t. 601.)
W. coccinea,—A fine plant 1 to 2
ft. high, closely related to W. Meri-
ana, and having spikes of scarlet
flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 1194).
W. densiflora.—A fine species,
with narrow stiffish leaves 15 to 2 ft.
long, and spikes of soft rosy flowers
in June (Lot. Mag. t. 6400).
W. humilis.—A pretty plant 2 to
2} ft. high, with two rows of narrow
sword-shaped leaves 1 to 14 ft. long,
and deep rose-coloured flowers in
July and August (Bot, May. tt. 63,
1193).
W. marginata,—This species grows
3 ft. or more high, and has somewhat
leathery lance-shaped leaves 2 to 2}
THE BULB BOOK
WATSONIA
ft. long, and bright pink drooping
flowers (Lot. Mag. t. 608), There
is a smaller-flowered variety called
minor (Bot, Mag. t. 1530).
W. Meriana (Antholyza Meriana).—
This fine species, 1 to 2 ft. high, has
thickish lance-shaped, strongly-nerved
Fic. 339.—Watsonia Meriana. (3.)
leaves, and spikes of purple or scarlet
flowers in May or June (Jot. Mag.
t. 418),
The variety