ABOUT DAY LILIES. 



nPHE various species of Hemerocallis are generally known 

 -*• as day lilies, and they are really very desirable herba- 

 ceous perennial plants with fleshy roots, graceful foliage and 

 showy, lily-like flowers. They thrive in any rich, moist soil, 

 in sun or partial shade, and a group of them show flowers for 

 many weeks. As border plants they make a fine display in 

 masses, and are much admired. Once planted they will last 

 for years, as they are perfectly hardy and very tenacious to 

 life. 



The genus is more or less confounded with that of Fnnkia, 

 the species of which are also known as day lilies. The two 

 genera are. indeed, closely related, but differ in foliage, in- 

 florescence and color — the foliage of Hemerocallis being nar- 

 row, stemless and channeled, while that of Fiinkia has stems, 

 is rather broad, and shows prominent veins. The bluish and 

 white flowers of Fnnkia are recemed, while the yellowish or 

 orange-scarlet flowers of Hemerocallis are chiefly borne in 

 terminal corymbs. 



Hemerocallis alba, H. cordata, H. Japonica, and H. 

 plantaginea are all names applied to Fnnkia subcordata, the 

 common white day lily, introduced from Japan in 1830. 

 Flemerocallis coentla is applied to Fnnkia ovata, with its varie- 

 gated varieties, all of which throw up long, stiff stems with 

 pendulous, bell-shaped flowers in racemes. 



The chief species of Hemerocallis are H. Dumortieri, 

 from Eastern Siberia, growing 18 inches high, and bearing 

 clusters of from two to four brownish orange flowers early in 

 summer. The foliage is dense, narrow, arched and graceful, 

 and a fine back-ground for the many flovver clusters. It is 

 often called H. rntilans, H. Sicboldii and H. minor. H. flava 

 is the well-known lemon lily. It throws up stems 2 5^ feet 

 high, bearing late in May, large clusters of lovely, fragrant, 



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