COMMELINA—CONANTHERA—CONVALLARIA. 61 
COMMELINA. 
Day Flower. 
A genus of very pretty native plants, annuals and 
perennials, hardy and greenhouse tratlers; common 
throughout the Southern States. The only species of 
value as a flowering plant is C. celestis, which makes an 
excellent border plant. Its flowers are blue, and of 
more intensity than perhaps can be found in any other 
vegetable form. The tubers should be taken up in 
autumn, and given the same attention as is paid to the 
Dahlia, only that in spring they may be planted without 
first being started into growth. 
CONANTHERA. 
Cummingia. 
A very rare bulb, native of Chili, and of difficult 
culture. The plants grow in winter, flowering in April, 
after which they require rest the entire summer. In 
their native habitat the natives use the roots—which 
taste, when cooked, not unlike sweet chestnuts—as an 
article of food. The flowers are blue, but are not of 
sufficient importance to compensate for the room they 
would require in the greenhouse. 
CONVALLARIA. 
Lily of the Valley. 
Of this genus there is but one species, Convallaria 
majalis, so common in our gardens, and one of the 
most important in the list of florists’ flowers. The 
species is widely disseminated, being found plentiful in 
England, but by far the most common in the province 
of Hanover, Germany, where it completely covers the 
ground, in the woods, and will tignt for possession in 
the cultivated fields. At the time of flowering, the air is 
scented for a considerable distance by the agreeable per- 
