SISYKINCIIIUM 



THE BULB BOOK 



SPAltAXIS 



althougli the plants have a Leek-like 

 base. 



The following are some of the best- 

 known kinds : 



S. angustifolium (S. gramineum). 

 This native of the United States 

 and Mexico is now naturalised in 

 boggy parts of Western Ireland and 

 in New Zealand. It has winged 

 stems, narrow leaves, and violet 

 flowers yellow at the base of the 

 oboval and distinctly mucronulate 

 segments. (Hot. May. t. 464; Red. 

 Lil. t. 282.) 



S. Bermudiana. A native of 

 Bermuda, 6 to 12 ins. high, with 

 flattened broadly winged stems, 

 narrow leaves, and sky-blue flowers 

 in June and July (Sot. Mag. t. 94). 

 This species requires to be grown in a 

 greenhouse or frame. 



S. californicuin (Marica califor- 

 nica). A half-hardy Californian 

 plant with uniform yellow flowers 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 983). Greenhouse or 

 frame. 



8. chilense. A native of Brazil, 9 

 to 18 ins. high, with narrow sword- 

 shaped leaves, and lilac flowers, 

 yellow at the base of the segments 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 2786). Greenhouse. 



S. fllifolium. A rush-like species 

 from the Falkland Islands, 6 to 12 

 ins. high, the roundish leafless stems 

 bearing clusters of pure white bell- 

 shaped flowers at the top (Bot. Mag. 

 t. 6829). Greenhouse. 



S. graminifolium. A Chilian 

 species, 12 to 18 ins. high, with 

 winged stems, narrow grass - like 

 leaves and yellow flowers (Bot. Reg. 

 t. 1067). The variety maculatum has 

 the base of the floral segments 

 spotted with blood red (Bot. May. t. 

 3197). Greenhouse. 



S. grandiflorum. This is the best- 

 known species of all, and is popularly 

 known as the " Spring Satan Flower." 

 It is a native of N. America, and is 



a beautiful hardy perennial with a 

 somewhat creeping root-stock, erect 

 narrow pointed leaves 6 to 8 ins. long, 

 and drooping, dark purple, bell- 

 shaped flowers in May and June (Bot. 

 May. t. 3509; Bot. Reg. t. 1364). 

 The variety album has white flowers. 



This species is quite hardy, and 

 should be planted in bold masses in 

 the border or rockery for effect. 



S. iridifolium (S. laxum). This 

 species grows wild from Brazil to 

 Chili, and is 12 to 18 ins. high, 

 having narrow sword-like leaves cili- 

 ated on the margins, and yellowish- 

 white flowers veined with brown (Bot. 

 May. t. 2319; Bot. Reg. t. 646, 

 as Marica). Greenhouse. 



S. micranthum. This Tropical 

 American plant is now naturalised in 

 parts of Australia. It has flexuose 

 stems, bract-like leaves, and small 

 pale yellow flowers (Bot. May. t. 

 2116). Greenhouse. 



S. striatum (Marica strtata).A. 

 Chilian species, 1 to 2 ft. high, having 

 narrow distichous leaves, and pale 

 yellow flowers striped with brown 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 701). Greenhouse or 

 frame. 



S. tenuifolium. A Mexican plant 

 having two - edged stems, narrow 

 pointed leaves with roughish margins, 

 and pale yellow 'flowers (Bot. May. 

 tt. 2117, 2313). 



SPARAXIS (sjKirasso, to tear; in 

 allusion to the torn spathes). Nat. 

 Ord. Irideae. This genus contains 

 about half a dozen species of graceful 

 bulbous plants, having bell-shaped 

 flowers cut into six more or less equal 

 segments. 



The species are all natives of S. 

 Africa, and may be regarded as fairly 

 hardy in the milder parts of the 

 Kingdom. In other localities they 

 are best grown in a frame or green- 

 house, and generally speaking may be 



419 



