2 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



spreading a welcome to the insects, a record for alacrity 

 that few other plants can equal. In no case are the flowers 

 likely to be slow in appearing. A glance at our illustrations 

 will show how slow leaf growth is in comparison with the 

 development of the flowers. Though the bulbs seldom pro- 

 duce more than two flowers at a time, they may blossom 

 more than once during the summer and in this way prolong 

 the blooming season. Several causes may operate to pro- 

 duce new crops of flowers. Sometimes a soaking rain after 

 a prolonged dry spell will do it; in fact, alternating drouth 

 and moisture seem to perfectly fit its requirements. 



Though called lilies, these plants are lillies by courtesy 

 only. They really belong to the allied family of the Amaryl- 

 lidaceae which is characterized by lily-like flowers with the 

 ovary inferior instead of superior as in the lilies. Our plant 

 was once considered an Amaryllis in good standing, but the 

 generic name is now retained for species with zygomorphic 

 (irregular) flowers, while those species with regular flowers 

 are included in the genus Zephyramthes, named from Zephyros 

 the west wind. The generic name has apparently suggested the 

 book names of zephyr lily and flower of the west wind. A good 

 example of a true Amaryllis is the well-known Johnson lily 

 (Amaryllis Johnsoni) whose red flowers in clusters at the top 

 of a tall stalk are familiar sights in many plant collections. The 

 plant commonly cultivated as the fairy lily seems to be 

 Zephyranthes earinata which grows wild in the West Indies 

 and Mexico. The catalogues usually list only Z. rosea but this 

 is a smaller and autumn flowering species which grows in 

 Cuba. If rosea is ordered, however, it is likely that earinata 

 will be sent. The nurserymen only approximate correctness in 

 nomenclature. 



