THE SUPERB LILY; 



O R, 



LILIUM SUPERBUM. 



The Superb Lily is a native of North America, and was first introduced into England in 1738, 

 by Peter Collinson, Esq. It was then called the great yellow-flowering Martagon, and dis- 

 tinguished from the purple, or common Turkscap, by having its leaves scattered, instead of 

 being placed in a whorl. Its flowers rise in the form of a stately pyramid by very long pedun- 

 culi, or footstalks, each issuing from an axilla of the stem-leaf. In common with the liliaceous 

 tribe, it has no calyx, a fleshy corolla, consisting of six petals, which, like the other Martagons, at 

 first beautifully involve the organs for reproduction, and then become reflected, and curl more 

 and more back, as the six stamina and pistillum advance towards perfection. At this period 

 the anthers, like a double folding door, roll back their partitions, to disperse the fecundating 

 pollen for the impregnation of the pistillum. We then behold these parts decay in progression, 

 the grand purpose of Nature being fulfilled, and the peduncles, or flower-stalks, which were 

 before elegantly pendent, become rigidly erect. As the pericarp, or seed-vessel, ripens, its 

 three valves gradually separate, finely exhibiting that interlacement of Jihres, which sowed 

 these parts together before maturity. In our picturesque plate the reader will find the northern 

 sky and shade which this plant requires, a circumstance happily caught at by the poet in making 

 his allegorical allusion to our flower. 



Fann'd by the summer gale, a Foplar stood 



Beside the margin of the silver flood; 



Beneath its playful gently-wav'ring shade 



A Lily proud her dazzling bloom display'd ! 



The flow'r complain'd, that stretching o'er her head 



The dark'ning tree her broadest umbrage spread. 



Not unattentive to the mournful strain, 



The master heard his fav'rite flower complain: 



The steady axe soon urg'd the fatal wound, 



And bow'd the stately Poplar to the ground! 



The Lily boastful now in full display 



Gave all her beauty to the garish day. 



But soon, her triumph ceas'd. ..the mid-day beam 



Pour'd on her tender frame a scorching stream. 



The plant then sick'ning, drooping, languid, pale, 



Call'd the soft show'r, and call'd the cooling gale; 



But no soft show'r, nor gale with cooling breath, 



Approach'd to save her from untimely death. ^ • 



Jerningham. 



