IONOrSIDIUM ACAULE. 185 



ORNITHOGALUM ARABICUM. 



The Ornithogalums comprise some highly interesting bulbous plants, which we may notice more 

 at length in an early number. At present we will confine ourselves to a recommendation of the 

 species here named, which deserves to be better known as a nearly hardy spring flower. Its bulb 

 is about the size of that of the Hyacinth, but much more dense, and of a dirty white colour. 

 It produces early in the year several long fleshy, pointed leaves, and in April a corymb of large 

 white spreading flowers, each division of which is marked at the base with brown and yellow, 

 and are very ornamental. Being from the Cape, it is not perfectly hardy, but may be grown 

 in the open border with only slight protection in dry sandy loams, and will then flower about 

 May. Our principal motive in now noticing it is, however, to suggest its cultivation as a window 

 bulb, for which it is well adapted. It may be grown like the Hyacinth, either in rather deep 

 pots of light rich sandy loam, containing a fourth of peat soil, or in water in the ordinary 

 Hyacinth-glass, into which the bulb will usually just fit ; or it will succeed well packed in a 

 pot of damp moss. It is of little importance which plan is followed ; the moss, by completely 

 surrounding the bulb, preserves it in a uniformly moist condition, whilst the ordinary Hyacinth- 

 glass, as everybody knows, exposes the upper surface of the bulb to the drying influence of the air 

 of the room in which it is placed. The moss will require to be frequently moistened, as the upper 

 portion will, of course, soon dry ; but, during the early stages of growth, while the roots are 

 forming, the pot should be kept in a cool place, and need not, indeed should not, be removed to 

 the sitting room, until a month or six weeks after planting. The same precaution applies 

 equally to the other modes of growth. "We have only to add that the Ornithogalum Arabicum 

 is as cheap as could be desired, being procurable at most of the London Seed-shops for about 

 three-pence per bulb — it is at least sold by Carter for that sum. They are best planted for early 

 flowers in October or November, those potted now will bloom rather later. It is scarcely 

 necessary to observe that, after the leaves have fairly commenced their growth, they will require 

 abundance of light, and especially when the flower stalk is thrown up. 



IONOPSIDIUM ACAULE. 

 Under the name of the Carpet-Plant, some of our readers may be already acquainted with 

 this neat little annual. It has received that name, we presume, from the compactness, as 

 well as the dwarfness of its growth, which is such, that, with a little stretch of the imagination, 

 it might be supposed capable of bearing the pressure of the foot uninjured; and a very pretty 

 carpetting it makes for a border. It is not, as its name acaule would imply, always stemless, 

 though it is usually so ; the small delicate leaves arising on long stalks from the root, and 

 producing from their axils numerous solitary flowers of a white colour, tinged with pale, blueish 

 lilac. It flowers in a few weeks after sowing, and may, therefore, be had in bloom at almost 

 any season. It is perfectly hardy, and makes a very pretty rock-plant, when sufficient moisture 

 is supplied it. It also forms an interesting ornament for the window during the winter and spring 

 months, if sown in flat pans of moist sandy loam, of poor quality. In a warm room the seeds 

 speedily vegetate, so that, sown in the early part of December, the plants would commence 

 flowering about the beginning or the middle of February, according to the temperature. "When 

 once plants are obtained, they may be increased by the runners which are thrown out, which 

 will root in moist earth. Most of the leading Florists are able to supply seed ; but the reader 

 will do well to bear in mind the fact, that to many it is known only by its old name, Gochltaria 

 acaulis, which ought to be discarded. It is a native of Portugal and Spain ; belongs to the 

 Natural Order Crucifera:, and derives its name from the supposed resemblance to a violet, 

 though, whether the allusion be to the leaves or flowers, we do not clearly understand. 



