JUNO 175 



variable ; it bears eight to ten long distichous leaves 

 which narrow very gradually to a sharp point ; they are 

 glossy green on the upper surface, very striated below, 

 and their bases so clasp the stem that it is completely 

 hidden. The spathes are 2 in. long, the valves lanceo- 

 late, pale green. Three or four flowers are produced 

 which measure 2 to 4 in. across ; the tube is 3 in. long ; 

 falls oblong-cuneate, the claw winged, blade somewhat 

 narrow, bluish white with blue veins and an inconspicuous 

 yellow median ridge. The standards are oblong, de- 

 flexed, I in. long ; style branches over I in. long, 

 like the standards of light blue colour ; crests large and 

 deltoid. The whole flower is blue in the centre, be- 

 coming paler towards the periphery. Is native of Mesopo- 

 tamia, near the mountains Sindjar and Taktak, in this 

 country flowering in March. Cultivation does not appear 

 to be difficult ; the plant is perfectly hardy, but after a 

 mild winter, which would encourage growth, it may 

 easily be damaged in a cold spring. 



Var. assyriaca ; /. assyriaca, Hort. I have seen 

 neither plant nor description, but Sir Michael Foster 

 kindly informs me that it is only a variety of /. sind- 

 jarensis. The flowers are white, but otherwise similar 

 to those of the type. Mr J. N. Gerard says of it that it 

 is more vigorous than any other Juno, making very large 

 bulbs, 3 in. in diameter. Herr Max Leichtlin, who dis- 

 tributed plants, advised that it should have special treat- 

 ment, but it has been found to do well in the open. In 

 the Revue Horticole it is said to be a native of the Euph- 

 rates Valley. I find it offered in several Catalogues, 

 and no doubt it is a desirable plant. 



I. sindjarensis x I. persica This hybrid was raised 

 by C. G. Van Tubergen, jun., and is briefly described by 

 Sir Michael Foster in Card. Chron., April 15, 1899, 

 p. 226. It is a charming plant, quite dwarf, and ex- 

 ceedingly floriferous a close-growing mass of blue 



