134 FTJNCKIA ALBO-MAKGINATA. 



or lanceolate, and in no case more than six or eight inches long, including the 

 petiole ; the flowers of the Day Lilies, as is well known, last but a single day, 

 while those of the Funckias remain expanded a much longer period; and in 

 colour there is a marked difference, all the latter being either blueish lilac, varying 

 in intensity in the different species, while that of the Hemerocallis is reddish 

 orange or yellow. A glance at our figure will at once render these distinctions 

 evident. 



The Funckia albo-marginata, which we have selected as an illustration of the 

 genus, is a hardy herbaceous perennial, producing numerous radical lance-shaped 

 leaves in a tuft; each leaf is from two and-a-half to four inches long, with a 

 channelled petiole of about the same length ; while young, the margin is slightly 

 tinged with yellow, but it ultimately becomes pure white, increasing considerably 

 the attractions of the plant. The scape, or flower-stem, is about eighteen inches 

 high, and bears from ten to fifteen blossoms of a pale violet blue, and about two 

 inches in length, including the short peduncle. Each blossom arises from a pointed 

 bract, one-third longer than the peduncle. Although the bracts are arranged 

 spirally round the stem, the flowers face only in one direction ; whilst in bud the 

 flower is inflated in its upper half, and when expanded displays six spreading 

 lobes. Both stamens and style are what is termed decimate ; that is, instead of 

 occupying the centre of the flower as in most plants, they all incline to one side, 

 which in this case is the lower one ; while in bud they are quite straight, but 

 after expansion the extremities both of stamens and style curve inwards, as in the 

 Alstromerias. The anthers of this species are yellow, a circumstance by which it 

 may be distinguished from most of the others, as we will presently explain. It 

 blooms with us in August, continuing in flower three or four weeks, several spikes 

 being produced in succession. It grows free in ordinary garden soil, and is quite 

 hardy throughout this country. In most seasons it ripens plenty of seed, from 

 which it may be increased; but the readiest method of propagating it, is by 

 dividing the roots in October. 



This plant appears to be the F. lancewfolia picta of some of the London Florists, 

 and the lanceafolia variegata of others. The name by which we have described 

 it is that given it by Sir "W. J. Hooker, and it is certainly distinct from the 

 lanceafolia. The leaves of that species are longer, and proportionately narrower, 

 than those of albo-marginata, of a much darker green, and very glossy on both 

 surfaces. The flowers are rather smaller, of a paler lilac, and do not open so 

 freely, with anthers of a pale dirty green colour. 



The F. ovata may be named as a desirable species. Its foliage is much larger 

 than that of the plant figured, of a dull green on its upper surface, but glossy 

 beneath. The flowers are of a deep violet blue, considerably darker than in 

 any of the other species, but rather smaller than in albo-marginata. The anthers 





