LYCOKIS 



THE BULB BOOK 



LYSICHITUM 



The species mentioned below are 

 not quite hardy, except in the very 

 mildest parts of the Kingdom. L. 

 t<qiiai)w/()'a is the hardiest, and will 

 flourish in the open air south of the 

 Thames in warm, sheltered borders in 

 well-drained gritty soil. The other 

 species may be tried in similar 

 situations, but they are on the Avhole 

 safer grown in pots in the greenhouse. 

 They like a sandy loam and a fair 

 supply of moisture during the growth 

 of the leaves ; these, in most cases, 

 Avither before the appearance of the 

 llower-stalks. The plants may be 

 divided after flowering if necessary, 

 the offsets being useful for increasing 

 the stock. When established in the 

 open air, it is better to leave the 

 plants alone for a few years, so as 

 to allow them to grow into bold and 

 effective masses. 



L. aurea {Amar;/llis and Kerlne 

 aurea). — A pretty Chinese species 

 with bright yellow scentless floAvers 

 about 3 ins. across, borne on scapes 

 1 to 2 ft. high in August {Bot. Mag. 

 t. 409; Bot. Keg. t. 611 ; Red. Lil. 

 t. 61). 



L. incarnata. — A native of Central 

 China, about 2 ft. high, the scape 

 bearing six to twelve large open, pale 

 flesh-coloured or rosy flowers, sweetly 

 scented. The segments are only 

 slightly Avavy and not so reflexed 

 as in L. sqiiamigera. 



L. radiata (Amari/llis radiatd ; 

 Xerinejaponica). — A native of China 

 and Japan, Avhence it Avas introduced 

 to English gardens in 1750. The 

 bright red scentless flowers appear in 

 summer or autumn on stems 1 to li 

 ft. high, and the leaves are developed 

 during the Avinter months. {And. Bot. 

 Hep. t. 25 ; Bot. Beg. t. 596.) 



There is a form called variegata or 

 I'erracio.ni, Avith large crimson HoAvers 

 the segments of Avhich become 

 margined Avith Avhite Avlien fading. 



349 



The variety pumila is much dAvarfer 

 than the type. 



L. sanguinea. — A Japanese species 

 Avitli bright red floAvers, having seg- 

 ments that are neither crisped nor 

 reflexed. 



L. Sprengeri. — A distinct species, 

 presumably from Japan, having short 

 ovate spathe valves, and long-stalked 

 rose-pink or purple-rose floAvers Avith- 

 out any distinct tube above the ovary 

 {Gard. Chron. 1902, xxxii. 469). 



L. squamigera.— A striking Japan- 

 ese species Avith large SAveet-scented 

 rosy-lilac HoAvers on scapes 2 to 3 ft. 

 high in August, after the narroAv 

 strap-shaped leaves have Avithered 

 and vanished. This species may be 

 grown outside in the same Avay as the 

 Belladonna Lily {Amaryllis Bella- 

 donna). 



L. straminea. — This Chinese plant 

 is closely related to L. aurea, but has 

 pale yelloAv or straAv-coloured HoAvers, 

 Avith a pink keel and a fcAv scattered 

 red dots. 



LYSICHITUM (/?/s?:s, loosing; ehiton, 

 a coat). Nat. Ord. Aroidea?.— This 

 genus contains only one species, 

 viz.— 



L. camtschatense. — A remarkable 

 and noble-looking Aroid, widely- 

 distributed over North-eastern Asia 

 and North-Avestern America. It is 

 a stemless plant Avith a thick root- 

 stock, and tufts of large oblong lance- 

 shaped acute leaves 12 to 30 ins. long, 

 and from 5 to 10 ins. Avide, the surface 

 being more or less conspicuously 

 spotted or mottled. The stout 

 cylindrical floAver-stalk is from 6 to 

 12 ins. high, and bears a pointed boat- 

 shaped bright yellow spathe 4 to 6 

 ins. long and 3 to 5 ins. across, 

 sheltering a dark green spadix 3 to 6 

 ins. long, bearing numerous HoAvers 

 Avhich emit a very disagreeable odour 

 Avhen mature about April or May. 



