GONIOSCYPHA 



THE BULB BOOK 



GRIFFINIA 



1 in. across, are borne in panicled 

 racemes (Bot. Mag. t. 6717). 



This plant .flourishes in a well- 

 drained sandy soil in sheltered sunny 

 spots. During the winter months 

 the root-stocks should be protected 

 from excessive rains and severe frosts 

 by a heap of litter or ashes. 



GONIOSCYPHA (yonoia, an angle ; 

 scyphos, a cup ; referring to the bracts 

 at the apex of the inflorescence). Nat. 

 Ord. Liliaceae. The only species 

 known is 



G. eucomoides, a native of the 

 Bhotan Himalayas, with broad oval- 

 oblong pointed leaves distinctly 

 veined. The pale or dull green bell- 

 shaped flowers with a cylindrical 

 tube are borne in dense terminal 

 spikes, the six lobes being roundish, 

 blunt, and crenulate (Gard. Chron. 

 1886, xxvi. 744). This species, which 

 is only of botanical interest, should 

 be grown in a warm greenhouse in 

 sandy soil. 



GRIFFINIA (after W. Griffin, a 

 patron of botany). Nat. Ord. Amaryl- 

 lidese. This genus contains seven or 

 eight species of ornamental bulbous 

 plants, all natives of Brazil. They 

 are recognised by having broad and 

 usually stalked leaves distinctly 

 veined and traversed obliquely by 

 other veins. The flowers are funnel- 

 shaped, bent or horizontal, with a 

 very short tube, and are borne in 

 umbels on top of a stout scape. 

 Perianth segments six, acute, the 

 three lower narrower than the three 

 upper. 



Being natives chiefly of Central 

 and Southern Brazil, the Griffinias 

 require to be grown in a warm green- 

 house in winter, and almost without 

 artificial heat in the height of 

 summer. The winter temperature 

 should not drop below 55 F. at night, 



260 



while in summer a night temperature 

 of 60 to 65 F. will be sufficient. 



When large specimens of Griffinias 

 are obtained, they form handsome 

 and unusual objects of decoration for 

 the greenhouse and conservatory. 

 They flourish in a compost of rich 

 yellow loam to which a little leaf- 

 mould and silver sand may be added. 

 The pots should be well drained, 

 and in no case should they be too 

 large for the bulbs about twice the 

 diameter being sufficient. The plants 

 are somewhat slow - growing, and 

 consequently require more regular 

 attention in regard to watering than 

 other bulbous plants that grow quickly 

 and soon finish their growth. When 

 growth is active, usually after flower- 

 ing is over, a little more heat and 

 moisture are necessary. It is generally 

 a good plan to repot after flowering, 

 using pots a little larger than before, 

 until large specimens are developed. 

 Annual potting is then unnecessary, 

 but it is well to give a top-dressing 

 of some special fertiliser or weak 

 liquid manure during active growth. 



Griffinias are propagated by offsets 

 detached and grown on ; and by 

 means of seeds. These should be 

 thoroughly ripened, and when sown 

 should not be covered with soil 

 beyond a mere sprinkling of sand or 

 gritty mould. The best temperature 

 for raising plants from seed is about 

 60 to 65 F. The seedlings are best 

 left in the seed-pots for a whole 

 season before disturbing them, and 

 then placed singly in well-drained 

 pots of a rich loamy soil with a little 

 sand and leaf-mould. The after- 

 treatment is as described above. If 

 thrips, aphides, scale, or mealy bug 

 appear, they may be checked by 

 syringing and sponging the leaves 

 with solutions of nicotine and soft 

 soap ; and the houses should be 

 fumigated or vaporised occasionally. 



