STERNBERGIA Lutea. 

 Yellow Sternhergia. 



Class and 0/Y/e/\— Hexandria Monogynia. 

 Syn. Sternbergia Lutea. Siveet's Hort. Brit. p. 505. 

 — Amaryllis Lutea. Bot. Mag. t. 290. 



Root bulbous— leaves radical, broadly linear, channelled, obtuse, dark green, 

 lighter underneath- scape one- flowered, seven or eight inches high - 

 spathe ovate, lanceolate— corolla yellow— six petals, oblong, obtuse, 

 margin entire— stamens six— filaments inserted at the base of the petals- 

 anthers oblong— style one— stigma very small— germen large. 



This plant, formerly known as Amaryllis lutea, is a native of 

 the South of Europe, and various parts of the East. Though intro- 

 duced into this country as early as 1596, it is by no means common. 

 When planted in the fi-ont of the borders it is very ornamental, par- 

 ticularly when exposed to a bright sun, which causes the flowers to ex- 

 pand. It has acquired a more interesting- character, from the suppo- 

 sition entertained by the late Sir J. E. Smith, that it may possibly be 

 the Lily of Scripture, to winch we find such beautiail allusions in the 

 Sacred writings. Sir J. E . S. observes, " It is natural to presume the 

 Divine Teacher, according to his usual custom, called the attention of his 

 hearers to some object at hand; and, as the fields of the Levant are over- 

 nin with the Amaryllis lutea, whose golden liliaceous flowers in Autumn 

 afford one of the most brilliant and gorgeous objects in nature, the ex- 

 pression of ' Solomon, in all his glory, not being arrayed like one of 

 these,' is peculiarly appropriate." It is a plant of easy cultivation, 

 perfectly hardy, and will grow in any good garden soil. At present 

 there are few species of this genus. 



S. colchiciflora. 



— Clusiana. 

 PI, 48. 



