DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWEKS. 121 



A. melancliolicus var. ruber, is a new variety, with 

 blood-red leaves, pyramidical growth, 14^ foot high, of ex- 

 cellent habit, and will supersede the Perilla. 



AMARYLLIS. 



[The name of a nymph celebrated by the poet Virgil.] 



This is a superb genus, nearly all of the species are 

 green-house or stove-plants ; some few maybe planted out 

 in the garden, but none of them will stand the winter. 



Amaryllis formosissima, Jacobean Lily, is a flower of 

 great beauty. It is a tender bulb, but succeeds well 

 when planted in May, in the open border, in a rich sandy 

 soil. The top of the bulb should hardly be covered with 

 earth. The flowers are large and of a very brilliant dark 

 crimson ; when the sun shines upon them, they look as if 

 sprinkled with gold. The under petals hang down, the 

 upper curl up, and the whole flower stands nodding on 

 one side of a stalk, about a foot high, making a fine ap- 

 pearance. The bulb rarely produces more than two flow- 

 ers, and more frequently but one; flowers in June or 

 July. Upon the approach of freezing weather, the bulbs 

 must be taken up, and put away in dry saw-dust, secure 

 from frost. It is a native of South America. 



AMETHYSTEA. 

 Amethystea ceerulea. — A tender annual with pretty 

 blue flowers, and a variety with white ; grows about 14- 

 foot high ; not very common in gardens ; in flower from 

 July to October. 



