CHIONOGRAPHIS 



THE BULB BOOK 



CHLOROGALUM 



CHIONOGRAPHIS (chion, snow ; 

 graphis, a pencil ; in reference to the 

 slender flower - spikes). Nat. Ord. 

 Liliacese. The only species C. 

 japonica is a remarkable and pretty 

 herbaceous perennial 6 to 12 ins. high, 

 native of Japan. It has a short thick 

 root-stock and tufts of narrow lance- 

 shaped leaves, which are smaller on 

 the stem. The small pure white 

 flowers are borne in spring in a 

 spiked raceme 4 to 5 ins. long, and 

 consist of two rows of two, three, and 

 four, or six, linear segments, the lower 

 ones being very small or absent alto- 

 gether. 



This plant is very little known, but 

 is cultivated at Kew. It succeeds in 

 a compost of sandy loam and peat, 

 and is effective when planted in bold 

 masses in warm corners of the rock- 

 garden. It may be increased in 

 September by dividing the root- 

 stocks, or sowing the seeds in cold 

 frames as soon as ripe. 



CHLIDANTHUS (dideios, delicate ; 

 anthos, a flower). Nat. Ord. Amaryl- 

 lideae. A genus closely related to 

 the Sternbergias, Hippeastrums, 

 Sprekelias, and Zephyranthes. 



C. Ehrenbergi. This Mexican 

 species differs from C. fragrans in 

 being taller, in having horizontal 

 flowers, each with a distinct stalklet, 

 and in having the three outer seg- 

 ments distinctly wider than the 

 inner ones (Gard. Chron. 1901, xxix. 

 312). 



C. fragrans (Pancratium luteum). 

 This is a native of the Andes of 

 Peru, and is recognised by its large 

 ovoid bulbs, grey-green linear leaves, 

 which are contemporary with the 

 bright yellow, erect, funnel-shaped 

 flowers. These appear in May and 

 June, one to four in an umbel on top 

 of a stoutish two-edged peduncle, and 

 are from 3 to 5 ins. long, with a 



fragrant odour. (Bot. Mag. t. 640; 

 Fl. d. Serr. t. 326.) 



These species are not quite hardy, 

 but might be grown in the open air 

 with a fair degree of success in the 

 mildest parts of the Kingdom. If 

 grown in the open, the soil should be 

 a rich sandy loam with a little peat 

 or leaf-mould, and the warmest and 

 most sheltered spots in the border or 

 rockery should be chosen for them. In 

 the autumn the bulbs may be either 

 taken up and stored in sand or dry 

 soil until the spring ; or they may be 

 covered with a dome of sand or ashes 

 to keep the wet and frost from injur- 

 ing them during the winter. Late in 

 March or early in April the bulbs 

 start into growth again, and at that 

 time the offsets should be detached 

 from the parent bulbs to increase the 

 stock. 



CHLOROGALUM (chloros, green; 

 gala, milk ; in reference to the green 

 sap). Nat. Ord. Liliacese. A small 

 genus of Californian bulbous plants 

 not of great garden value. 



C. divaricatum (Ornithogalum 

 divaricatum), known as the "Strag- 

 gling Star of Bethlehem," is very 

 similar, but has white flowers veined 

 with green (Bot. Reg. 1842, t. 28). 



C. pomeridianum (Anthericum and 

 Phalangium pomeridianum). This, 

 the best-known species, is known as 

 the " Soap plant " of California, owing 

 to the soapy matter contained in the 

 bulbs. It is a distinct-looking plant 

 with flaccid grey-green leaves having 

 roughish margins. The white flowers 

 veined with purple are borne in June 

 and July on loosely branched stems, 

 about 2 ft. high, but they expand 

 only in the afternoon, a fact alluded 

 to in the specific name. (Bot. Reg. 

 t. 564.) 



These bulbs are easily grown in 

 ordinary good garden soil that has 



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