P.EONIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



PANCRATIUM 



Mag. t. 8173; Gard. Chron. 1908, 

 xliv. 70, f.) 



P. mollis. This grows about 1 ft. 

 high, and has hairy steins and leaves 

 and purple red flowers (Bot. Reg. 

 t. 474). 



P. officinalis. This is the Paeony 

 most commonly met with in gardens. 

 It is a native of S. Europe, and grows 

 2 to 3 ft. high, the smooth deep- 

 green leaves being cut into numerous 

 lance-shaped segments. The flowers 

 are usually red or crimson, but in 

 many cases shade away to white with 

 age. (Bot. Mag. 1. 1784.) 



There are numerous varieties such 

 as purpurea (also known as 

 ftdgens and splendens), incarnata, 

 alba, and one called anemonceflora 

 plena, in which the centre petals are 

 united and elevated into a tuft. 



P. paradoxa. A native of Central 

 and S. Europe, 1 to l ft. high, 

 with dense tufts of red-edged leaves 

 and purple-red flowers. 



P. peregrina. A well-known South 

 European plant, 1^ to 2 ft. high, 

 having dull green leaves smooth 

 above, hairy beneath, and bright 

 crimson flowers with five to ten 

 petals (Bot. Mag. t. 1050). P. pubens 

 is a hairy -stemmed variety (Bot. Mag. 

 t. 2664). 



P. Russi. A native of N. Africa, 

 Corsica, etc., 1 to 1| ft. high, with 

 thinnish leaves and bright crimson 

 flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 3431). 



P. tenuifolla. A very distinct 

 Pseony from S.E. Europe, 1 to 1^ ft. 

 high, with creeping root-stocks, and 

 leaves cut into narrow thread-like 

 segments. The flowers are deep 

 crimson, with golden stamens in the 

 centre. (Bot. Mag. t. 226.) There 

 are several handsome. double-flowered 

 forms. 



P. triternata. Native of S.E. 

 Europe and Asia Minor, 1^ to 2 ft. 

 high, with smooth leaves pale green 



above, grey beneath, and rose-red 

 flowers (Bot. Mag. t. 1441). 



P. Veitchi. A Chinese species, 

 closely related to P. anomala, but 

 has branching stems with several 

 purplish-crimson flowers borne on 

 slightly drooping or arching stems. 

 The plant emits a peculiar odour. 



P. Wittmanniana. A distinct 

 species from the Caucasus and Persia, 

 about 2 ft. high, having twice-ternate 

 leaves, downy beneath, and pale 

 yellow flowers borne on short stalks 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 6645; Garden, 1890, 

 ii. 201). 



PANCRATIUM (pan, all; kratys, 

 powerful ; in reference to the 

 supposed medicinal virtues). Nat. 

 Ord. Amaryllidese. A genus contain- 

 ing about a dozen species of bulbous 

 plants with tufts of ornamental 

 strap - like leaves, and umbels of 

 funnel - shaped flowers, remarkable 

 for having a central cup - shaped 

 corona something like in the Narcissi, 

 but formed from the dilated bases 

 of the stamen filaments. 



The Pancratiums are very closely 

 related to the Hymenocallis, and 

 have been much confused with them. 

 With the exception of P. illyricum 

 and P. maritimum (which are practi- 

 cally hardy south of the Thames), 

 most of the Pancratiums require 

 stove or at least warm greenhouse 

 treatment. They flourish in a 

 compost of sandy loam, fibrous peat, 

 or leaf-mould, and well-rotted cow- 

 manure in about equal proportions, 

 and may be grown in pots, pans, or 

 tubs, or planted in borders in the 

 stove or greenhouse. During growth 

 plenty of moisture is necessary, and 

 the night temperature should not 

 fall below 60 to 65 F. Propagation 

 is chiefly managed by detaching the 

 offsets and growing them on. 



Except where otherwise noted, the 



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