RICHARDIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



RICHARDIA 



still popularly known amongst 

 gardeners as CALLAS or ARUMS 

 genera very closely related but differ- 

 ing in certain botanical characters. 

 Generally speaking, the Bichardias 

 mentioned below require to be grown 

 in a warm greenhouse, although some 

 of them are almost hardy in the most 

 favoured parts of the Kingdom, if the 

 crowns of the tubers can be kept free 

 from frost. They all like a rich 

 loamy soil and plenty of moisture at 

 the root when in full growth. A little 

 well-decayed cow - manure, and a 

 handful of sand with the loam will 

 be an advantage. One great point 

 to keep in mind in growing Richardias 

 is, when once growth commences the 

 temperature should not be allowed 

 to jump up and down erratically. 

 Nothing checks growth quicker than 

 a sudden drop in the temperature at 

 night - time, especially when the 

 spathes or "flowers" are showing. 

 The plants then remain almost 

 stationary in growth, and unless care- 

 fully handled soon become a prey to 

 green-fly and other troubles. Perhaps 

 this applies more particularly to 

 plants that are being forced into 

 early bloom for Christmas, Easter, or 

 Whitsuntide, than when the plants 

 are grown cooler and under more 

 natural conditions. 



Arum Lilies are most easily propa- 

 gated by the offsets from the old 

 tubers. Of late years, however, such 

 kinds as R. Elliottiana, B. hastata, 

 and R. Pentlandi have been raised 

 from well - ripened seeds. These 

 should be sown when ripe, or in early 

 spring in well-drained pots or pans in 

 rich sandy loam The temperature 

 at night should not fall below 50 F., 

 and the air should be fairly moist. 

 During the daytime the temperature 

 may be 5 or 10 higher, but the 

 young plants should be shaded from 

 strong sunshine. Owing to the 



brittleness of the roots it is better not 

 to disturb the seedlings for at least 

 twelve months after germination. 

 The seeds should therefore be sown a 

 couple of inches apart at first, so as to 

 allow sufficient space afterwards for 

 development. 



The kinds mentioned below are all 

 noteworthy : 



R. Adiami. This is rather a fine 

 species, having green hastate leaves, 



Fio. 298. Richardia Adiami. (J.) 



and large creamy -yellow spathes with 

 a deep purple blotch at the base. It 

 flowers during the summer months. 



R. africana (.ff. cethiopica ; Calla 

 cethiopica). This is commonly known 

 as the Arum Lily, the Trumpet Lily, 

 and the Lily of the Nile. It is a 

 native of S. Africa, and grows from 2 

 to 3 ft. high, having tuberous root- 

 stocks, large green sagittate leaves, 

 and beautiful white trumpets or 

 spathes enclosing a cylindrical yellow 



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