128 Nat. order. — liliace^. 



they are pink, and close at night, expanding partially in the sun, but 

 never opening fully ; the tube is very short and green on the outside. 

 It flowers in September and October ; and as the leaves only appear 

 in November, and continue all the vrinter, it is generally kejit in a 

 green-house, though the plants appear hardy. The leaves decay 

 about May or June. There is a variety figured and described by Euro- 

 pean botanists, which blossoms earlier, and has rather darker and 

 more open flowei-s. It was named in honor of Mr. Booth, who dis- 

 covered the plant, and states that he is inclined to consider it as half- 

 hardy, only requiring protection from frost. The soil round tlie bulbs 

 when found, was of a very sandy nature. Mr. Booth adds, that the 

 plant seeks a mixture of loam, peat, and sand ; that it flowers in Octo- 

 ber, and that the flowers remain in perfection eight or ten days. 



The name of Habrantlms, which is derived from two Greek 

 words, " signifying deUcate flowers," is applied to a genus of bulbous 

 plants, very nearly allied to Zcp/ir/ranthcs in appearance, but difl'er- 

 ing so much botanically, that Mr. Herbert found it impossible to raise 

 any hybrid between the two genera. He observes that the flower of 

 the Habranthus rises after the dry season of rest, and is followed by 

 the leaves, which remain on the plant through the winter, while the 

 leaves of the ZcphyraiUhcs appear with the flowers, and fade in the 

 winter. Thus though all the chfferent kinds of Habranthus are quite 

 hardy, yet as their leaves are in perfection during winter, they must 

 be liable to injury, unless they are protected in some manner. 



Propagation and Culture. These plants require, in order to pre- 

 pare their blossoms, a hot period of rest, which would be often want- 

 ing to them if exposed to our climate. When cultivated in a border, 

 they should be covered with a glass frame, to keep them hot and dry, 

 in May, June, and July. Mr. Herbert adds, that any covering of 

 mats or straw that wiU prevent injury from severe frost, will be suf- 

 ficent to protect them in winter ; or they may be taken up when the 

 leaves decay, without breaking the fibres, kept in sand and re-set 

 three months afterwards. 



