638 



KNIPHOFIA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



KNIPHOFIA. 



brilliant than most of the species, it is 

 one of the hardiest, and is distinct and 

 robust. It is a very striking plant for 

 the bold rock-garden, and it does well 

 and flowers freely on dry slopes in light 

 warm soils, and in open sunny positions. 

 It should have a little protection in severe 

 cold. Suckers or offsets taken off in early 

 autumn root freely in sand in a cold frame. 



K. comosa seems to be closely allied 

 to K. pumila, and has a peculiar appearance 

 with its long protruding style and anthers. 

 It is much dwarfer than K. aloides, its 

 leaves are much narrower, while its flowers 

 are smaller and its bright green leaves 

 are in dense rosettes, narrow, very pointed, 

 and almost three-cornered. The bright 

 yellow flowers droop in a dense oblong 

 head, the stamen and style being about 

 twice the length of the flower tube. K. 

 comosa is a showy plant, flowering in 

 September, but is rather tender. 



K. foliosa may be said to be the 

 counterpart of K. caulescens, but it has 

 distinct stems, being also one of the 

 most robust of all the Kniphofias, and 

 easily distinguished by its broadish 

 leaves and its protruding stamens. The 

 leaves form a dense tuft on the top of a 

 stem I to 3 ft. high and are 3 or 4 in. 

 broad at the base, tapering to a long 

 point : flowers in a dense oblong head 

 nearly i ft. long, bright yellow or tinged 

 red, appearing in late autumn. Cape. 

 Syn., K. (Iticirtiniana. 



K. Leiciltlini is a native of Abyssinia, 

 and requires winter protection even in the 

 South of England. Its spreading bright 

 green leaves form a dense tuft ; they are 

 2 to 4 ft. long, three-cornered, with entire 

 margins, the flower-stems 2 to 4 ft. high, 

 the flower-head about 6 in. long, the droop- 

 ing flowers of a dull vermilion-red and 

 yellow. The variety disticha, which is 

 quite distinct from the type, is more robust, 

 its leaves broader, and flower-tube shorter; 

 two or three heads of bright deep yellow 

 flowers are borne on the same stem in August. 

 Some have suggested that it is a hybrid 

 between K. Leichtlini and K. comosa. 



K. Macowani.— This differs from most 

 Kniphofias in having the segments of its 

 corolla reflexed, and in being of dwarf 

 habit, 12 to 18 in. high, the narrow grassy 

 leaves i to 2 ft. long, the flower-heads 

 small, the flowers of a bright orange-red. 

 It is hardy, and is suitable for rock-gardens. 

 Rigidissima and maroccana are garden 

 synonyms. The variety longiflora has 

 much longer flowers. K. corallina is a 

 robust hybrid. It is exactly intermediate 

 between K. Macowani and K. aloides, and 

 is a very pretty plant. 



K. Northise.— This is most nearly 

 allied to K. caulescens, but its leaves are 

 much broader, are not keeled, and are 

 serrulate on the margins. The dense 

 flower-heads are about i ft. long, the 

 flowers being pale yellow, but the upper 

 ones are tinged with red towards the tips. 

 S. Africa. 



K. Rooperi is nearly allied to K. aloides, 

 but is an early, or summer, flowering plant, 

 while the stamens are included in the tube; 

 the flowers are paler and less curved, and 

 the leaves are broad and very glaucous. 

 K. Rooperi is a native of Caffraria, and 

 requires a little protection during severe 

 winters. It has a fine bold effect when in 

 full flower, the flower-heads, 6 in. to i ft. 

 long, being crowded with bright orange- 

 red flowers, which get yellowish with age. 



The plant usually but wrongly called 

 Rooperi flowers in November and Decem-^- 

 ber, and is a variety of K. aloides. 



K. sarmentosa is distinguished from 

 K. aloides by its smaller glaucous leaves, 

 the cylindrical flower-heads from 6 in. to 

 I ft. long, the flowers red in the upper 

 half, and yellow, or yellow tinged red, in 

 the lower. It is perfectly hardy. There 

 is a good hybrid between K. sarmentosa 

 and K. aloides. Cape. 



K. triangularis, at first sight, reminds 

 one of K. Macowani, especially as regards 

 the flower-spike, which is about the same 

 size and of a similar tint. The foliage, 

 however, is broader and longer, and in 

 this respect it resembles K. Uvaria. It is 

 desirable because it is earlier in flower 

 than most varieties, and also because it is 

 a free grower. 



K. Tysoni.— A handsome new variety, 

 with ; persistent strong foliage of a soft 

 glaucous shade, each leaf measuring 

 3 feet or more in length and 3^ inches 

 wide at base, tapering to a fine point ; 

 the edges of leaf finely serrated. Through 

 June the strong Yucca-like growths 

 ioear bold spikes of orange-scarlet and 

 primrose-yellow flowers, the upper por- 

 tion of the inflorescence being red, the 

 lower primrose. In the bud stage the 

 whole is orange-red, but as the lower flowers 

 expand they change to soft primrose, 

 the flowers opening from the bottom 

 upwards. The inflorescence measures 

 from \\ feet to 2 feet in length, while the 

 strong flower spikes attain a height of 

 from 5 ft. to 6 ft. This is a hardy and 

 valuable addition suitable for the flower 

 border, larger rock garden, or in isolated 

 groups. Like the rest of the family, it 

 delights in rich, well-drained soil and a 

 warm, sunny position. 



K. Tucki has large, glaucous. Yucca- 



