1873. ] 



GARDEN LILIES, CHAPTER III. 



183 



each other. To this group belong the following species, namely, Lilium 

 candidwn, L. japonicum, L. nepalense, L. Krameri, L. longifiorum^ L. Washing- 

 tonianum, L. cordtfoUum, and L. giganteum, and perhaps others also. 



4. LiLiUM CANDIDDM {Bot. Mag., t. 278).— This is the well-known White 

 Lily of the gardens, a species distinguished in the Eulirion group by its numerous 

 narrowish scattered leaves, and its funnel-shaped flowers, two to three inches long. 

 It grows 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height, and is erect in habit, and perfectly glabrous. 

 In autumn, long before the flowering-stems are developed, a tuft of oblong 

 bluntish shining green leaves is developed from the bulb ; and from amongst 

 these in spring the flowering-stems grow up. The stem-leaves are from sixty to a 

 hundred in number, much crowded and conspicuously longer in the lower part of 

 the stem, being there erecto-patent, linear, and 6 in. to 8 in. long, diminishing 



Lilium oandidum— flower one-half natural size 



upwards, so that the upper ones are about an inch long, and acquire a lanceolate 

 form. The flowers grow in a thyrsoid raceme, and are from five to ten, or some- 

 times more, in number ; pure white, 2 in, to 3 in. long, the upper ones more or 

 less ascending, the lower drooping ; the flower-stalks rigid and erecto-patent, the 

 lower 2 in. to 3 in. long, with lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate bracts ; the perianth 

 divisions are oblanceolate, the outer ones six to nine lines, the inner eight to ten 

 lines broad, all narrowed gradually to a cuneate base. The anthers have pure 

 white filaments, and bright yellow pollen ; and the style is from 1^ in. to 2 in. 

 long, slightly ascending towards the point. 



The White Lily is a native of the South of Europe, extending from Corsica 

 on the western to Greece and Turkey on the eastern side ; and according to books, 

 is found also in Palestine, Syria, and Persia. It was one of the earliest species 

 introduced to cultivation, and is yet a favourite in every garden. Indeed, it has 



