PLANTS OF BERMUDA. 83 



Nat: Ord : 67. Liliacece. 



Herbaceous plants arising from a bulb or tuber ; leaves sessile, 

 or with a leafy petiole, sheathing at the base, parallel veined ; 

 flowers perfect, regular ; the perianth six-parted, usuallj' white or 

 red ; stamens six, inserted on the perianth, anthers opening towards 

 the centre of the flower ; style simple ; ovary superior, three-celled ; 

 fruit a capsule or berry, with one or more seeds in each cell. 



The most important plant in this order is the Onion [Allium ccpa), 

 on the successful raising of which the prosperity of the Bermudian j* 

 planter, to a large extent, depends. The exports for 1883 amounted 

 to 300,000 boxes, each containing 50 lbs. weight, and representing 

 a total value of £50,000. The seed is planted in September or 

 October, and the bulbs mature in April. 



Asparagus is occasionallj'' cultivated with some success. 



This order, however, is more generally noted for the beauty of 

 its flowers than for its edible products. 



The Easter Lily {Zilittm longijlorum), a dwarf species, which bears U 

 numerous large flowers of purest white, is becoming yearly more 

 largely appreciated ; climatic influence, with a careful selection of 

 bulbs, appears to have produced a permanent variety peculiar to 

 these Islands. 



Other species frequently cultivated are, Lilium candidiim, which 

 bears a raceme of white flowers on a stout leafy stem three to four 

 feet high; the red Japanese Lily [L. speciosum)y and the Scarlet 

 Martagou (Z. chalcedomcum). 



The Blue Lily [Agapanthus iimbellatHs) bears an umbel of numerous 

 deep blue flowers, crowning a naked stem about two feet high. 



The Star of Bethlehem (a species of Ormthogallum) produces long 

 racemes of numerous small greenish-white flowers before the leaves 

 appear. 



Two or three species of Dracwna, shrubs with erect woody stems, 

 may be seen in the Public Park and other gardens, where their % 

 dark crimson or variegated foliage affords a pleasing contrast with 

 other vegetation. 



The Bowstring Hemp {Sanseviera Gulncnsts, and a few Hyacinths, 

 with the Aloes mentioned below, complete the garden plants of 

 this popular order. 



Woodg plants with simple leaves, crowded at the top of stem ; Jlowers 

 large in terminal panicles; perianth six-leaved, regular, persistent; 

 stamens six, inserted in base of perianth ; capsule fleshy , six-celled, many- 

 seeded. 



'\s 1. r. aloifolia (Spanish Bayonet). Perennial, stem cylindrical, 

 woody, four to six feet high, leaves spear-shaped, thickly clustered 

 at the summit, at length deflexed, rigid, a foot or more in length, 

 an inch broad, margin rough, point slender, bearing a dark woody 



