SYRIXGOPKA 



THE BULB BOOK 



TACCA 



SYKINGODBA (syringodes, fistular ; 

 in allusion to the slender perianth- 

 tube). Nat. Ord. Iridese. Out of the 

 seven species in this genus the only 

 one worth notice is 



S. pulchella. A pretty little South 

 African plant with roundish bulbs 

 about i in. thick, sickle - shaped 

 bristle-like leaves, 3 to 4 ins. long, 

 and pale purple cylindrical flpwers in 

 autumn, with deeply lobed wedge- 

 shaped segments (Hot. May. t. 6072 ; 

 Fl. d. Serr. t. 2096). 



This species may be grown in a 

 frame or cool greenhouse in a compost 

 of rich sandy soil, and to secure an 

 effect several little bulbs should be 

 planted together in a pot or pan. 

 The plants may be increased by 



TACCA (the Malayan name). Nat. 

 Ord. Taccacese. This genus, known 

 formerly as ATACCIA, comprises about 

 nine species of stove plants with 

 tuberous root-stocks, leaves simple 

 or much divided, flowers regular, 

 borne in umbels with several large, 

 more or less ornamental leafy bracts, 

 and numerous drooping, thread-like, 

 sterile blossoms. 



T. artocarpifolia. A remarkable 

 tuberous-rooted plant from Mada- 

 gascar. It bears about three leaves 

 with brown stalks, 2 ft. long, stout, 

 cylindric, the blade being 2 to 3 ft. 

 across, and cut into three main lobes, 

 which are again much divided. 

 Numerous flowers are borne on 

 thickish brown scapes 5 to 6 ft. 

 high, the sterile ones being drooping 

 and thread-like, the fertile ones being 

 globular, greenish with a brown base. 

 (Rot. Mag. t. 6124.) 



T. Chantrieri. This resembles T. 

 cristata, but differs in being much 

 larger in every way, and in having 

 more numerous long-stalked flowers. 



T. cristata (T. Rafflesiana). A fine 



species from the Malayan Archipelago, 

 having conical tuberous root-stocks, 

 oblong pointed leaves purplish at the 

 base, and numerous deep purple 

 flowers, the sterile ones being droop- 

 ing and cord-like, the fertile ones 

 with six lobes in two pairs with a 

 greenish centre (Bot. May. t. 4589). 



Fio. 318. Tacc acristata. (J.) 



T. integrifolia. A native of the 

 East Indies, with a tuberous root- 

 stock, ovate, lance - shaped, entire 

 leaves with brown stalks, and six- 

 lobed greenish-purple flowers, sub- 

 tended by large leafy purple-veined 

 spathes (JBot. Mag. t. 1488). 



T. oceanica (T. pinnatifida). A 

 Polynesian species, having turnip- 

 like root-stocks, three-lobed leaves 

 with segments deeply divided and 

 cut, and clusters of green flowers with 

 leafy bracts on top of a stoutisb 

 scape (Bot. Mag. tt. 7299, 7300). 



These wonderful and curious look- 

 ing plants are easily grown in a 

 compost of sandy loam and leaf -soil, 

 and require abundance of heat and 

 moisture, especially during active 

 growth. The plants may be syringed 



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