172 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 
equalled by that of any other flower, comes from the 
Levant. Asia furnishes the ZL. chalcedonicum and the 
L. monadelphum, the latter varying in some respects 
slightly, and sold under several specific names; Siberia 
furnishes the lovely little LZ. tenuifolium, which is 
there used as an article of food; most of the other spe- 
cies are scattered over Europe. ‘Thus, it will be seen, 
the species have a wide geographical range. With the 
exception of those found in Japan and California, within 
certain limits the species bear a close resemblance in 
their generic characters. In Japan nearly every form 
and color the genus affords is to be found, with some 
peculiarities exclusively her own; characters that go to 
make up flowers superior in point of true beauty and 
loveliness to any of the species native elsewhere, always 
excepting LZ. candidum, which has no equal. 
In each of the species there is a marked variation in 
the color and shape of the flowers, in the height and gen- 
eral habit of the plant; though not enough to be termed 
specific, yet sufficient to establish a variety entitled to a 
distinctive name. By systematic selection the grower 
has been enabled to multiply varieties to an almost un- 
limited extent. One dealer in Holland has listed in his 
catalogue fifty varieties of Thunbergianum, nearly as 
many of Umbellatum, thirty-five varieties of Speciosum 
(Lancifolium), twelve of Tigrinum, eight of Candidum, 
and so on through the list. In either case from one to 
six varieties would fairly represent the species and avoid 
great confusion in nomenclature. The multiplication of 
varieties of the Lily has caused the beginner sad annoy- 
ance; his unpracticed eye fails to discern the fine shades 
and markings, that seem so important to the enthusi- 
astic grower, and he naturally concludes that he has but 
one variety under several names. In a measure, he is 
correct, as is any one that buys any number of scarlet 
Pelargoniums, or Verbenas, to which the grower has given 
