LILIACE^. 289 



on the scape. It is the most distinct of the genus, and worth 

 looking after. 



Fritillaria {Fritillary). — This is a large genus of elegant and 

 attractively curious rather than showy plants. They are strik- 

 ing and interesting ornaments of the mixed border. They 

 thrive in any good loam — the richer the better ; but they are 

 impatient of stagnant moisture, and equally so of extreme 

 drought. They are increased by the natural development of 

 offsets from the older bulbs, and the division should take place 

 immediately after the leaves and stems decay ; and all are in- 

 vigorated by periodical lifting and replanting, say every three 

 or four years. 



F. imperialis {OvcUfi Impej-ial). — A stately, striking plant, 

 gi-owing erect, 3 or 4 feet high. The stems are clothed with 

 leaves for fully half their length, the upper part being naked 

 and terminating in a head of large pendulous flowers, sur- 

 mounted by a crown of leaves. There are several varieties 

 differing in the colour of the flowers — one termed flava has 

 yellow flowers, and is rather more robust, though not more 

 showy, than the others; another variety has orange-coloured 

 flowers ; and a third has the flowers showy red. Besides these, 

 there is a handsome variegated-leaved sort well worth a place. 

 The Crown Imperial is a native of Persia. 



F. Meleagris (S/iakes-head F.) — This is a peculiar and ele- 

 gant dwarf species indigenous to Britain and other countries of 

 Europe. It grows about i foot high, erect, and the stems are 

 clothed with lance-shaped glaucous leaves from base to top. 

 The flowers are solitary, drooping from the summit of the stem, 

 are widely bell-shaped, incurved at the mouth, and prettily 

 marbled with reddish-purple on a dull white ground. They 

 appear in March, and last a month or two. Of this species 

 there are also two or three distinct varieties as regards the 

 colour of the flowers, and there is one with double flowers quite 

 unworthy of a place except as a curiosity. The most distinct 

 and desirable of the others is the variety named F. M. alba; 

 and there is a dusky yellow sort well worth a place for variety's 

 sake. 



F. nigra (Black F) — A very distinct species, rather taller 

 than the last, with erect stems clothed with narrower lance- 

 shaped glaucous leaves. The flowers are solitary, drooping 

 from the top of the stem ; they are bell-shaped, with a narrower 

 base than that of the last species, and the divisions of the 

 corolla reflex at the mouth, showing somewhat of the greenish- 

 yellow colour of the interior of the flower. Externally they are 



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