MEGARHIZA 



THE BULB BOOK 



MERENDERA 



goides is described in this work as 

 Asparagus medeoloides. 



MEGARHIZA (megas, large ; rhiza, 

 a root ; referring to the large tuberous 

 root-stock). Nat. Ord. Cucurbi- 

 taceae. 



M. californica. This is a curious 

 Californian plant with large tuberous 

 roots often weighing 20 to 40 Ibs., 

 and annual trailing stems 18 to 20 ft. 

 long, bearing shining silvery, palmately 

 lobed leaves. The staminate (male) 

 and pistillate (female) flowers are 

 borne separately, the latter being 

 solitary at the base of the male 

 clusters, and in due course giving 

 rise to a roundish or oblong spiny 

 fruit resembling a sweet chestnut. 



This curiosity will grow in warm 

 sunny spots in good garden soil, and 

 may be increased from seed sown in 

 gentle heat in spring. 



MELANTHIUM (melas, black ; 

 anthos, a flower ; referring to the 

 dark blossoms). Nat. Ord. Liliaceae. 

 A small genus of North American 

 herbs with very short thickened or 

 bulbous root-stocks, from which arise 

 smooth and membranous, narrow or 

 lance-shaped leaves, and panicles of 

 yellowish or greenish-white poly- 

 gamous flowers. 



M. virginicum (Helonias virginica). 

 The "Bunch Flower" of Virginia. 

 It grows from 3 to 5 ft. high, having 

 narrow grass-like leaves larger at the 

 base, and creamy-yellow flowers in 

 July, fading to dark brown. (Hot. 

 Mag. t. 985.) 



This plant grows well in ordinary 

 garden soil or in a mixture of loam 

 and peat, in somewhat shaded posi- 

 tions, and may be increased in 

 autumn or spring by division. 



MELASPH.3ERULA (melas, black ; 

 sphcerula, a little ball or sphere ; in 



allusion to the form and colour of the 

 small blackish bulbs). Nat. Ord. 

 Irideae. The only species is 



M. graminea (M. parviflora ; 

 Gladiolus gramineus). A pretty little 

 bulbous plant from S. Africa, having 

 bright green grass-like leaves 6 to 12 

 ins. long, and whitish flowers in April 

 striped with purple, and borne in a 

 large branching and flexuose panicle. 

 (Sot. Mag. t. 615.) 



This species is only hardy in the 

 very mildest parts of the Kingdom, 

 and is generally grown in green- 

 houses or frames ; or in well-sheltered 

 borders facing south, in rich and 

 gritty soil, much in the same way as 

 recommended for the Ixias. In creased 

 by offsets or seeds. 



(the Spanish name 

 for Colchictim). Nat. Ord. Liliacese. 

 A small genus of bulbous plants 

 closely related to Bulbocodium and 

 Colchicum, having tunicated bulbs or 

 corms, narrow leaves, and funnel- 

 shaped flowers. 



The species mentioned flourish in 

 a light rich sandy soil in rather 

 moist situations, and are rather hand- 

 some grown in large batches. They 

 may be increased by offsets and 



M. Bulbocodium (Bulbocodium au- 

 tumnale). A pretty Pyrenean plant 

 resembling Bulbocodium vernum in 

 appearance, but produces its rosy- 

 lilac flowers in autumn on stems 3 to 

 4 ins. high. The narrow sickle-shaped 

 leaves appear after the flowers have 

 faded, and remain fresh and green 

 throughout the winter. 



M. caucasica (Bulbocodium trigy- 

 num). A native of the Caucasus, 3 to 

 4 ins. high, with delicate rosy flowers 

 in April and May (Bot. Mag. t. 



M. persica (Bulbocodium Aitchi- 

 soni). From Persia and India ; has 

 3 z 



