Observations on the Genus Hemerocallis. 407 



present to the curious inquirer. It will be observed that the type 

 or original form is a perianth of six alternate sepals; and follow- 

 ing the general rule in all liliaceous plants, the three inner, or as 

 they appear to the eye, each alternate sepal, (colored leaf or 

 petal,) will be smaller than the rest. Such was the case in the 

 individual before us; but next, we notice that three of the six 

 stamens are converted into perfect sepals, alternating with three 

 perfect staminate organs; then, an imperfect stamen and two sp- 

 pals; next, three imperfect sepals; next, three perfect stamens; 

 next, five short stamens furnished with large arrow-shaped anthers; 

 next, three very short filaments, with perfect and regular anthers; 

 next, three attempts at the formation of the anthers; and lastly, 

 in lieu of the pistil and its three important organs of stigma, fila- 

 ment and germ, nothing but the prolongation of the axis, with the 

 ovary completely obliterated. Had this manifest struggle of na- 

 ture occurred in a camellia or rose, it would have been compla- 

 cenily regarded as a very fair subject of experiment, and worthy 

 of renewed effort to obliterate not only germen, but every rudi- 

 ment which was not convertible into broad, flat or convex pet- 

 als. Thus counter runs the simple and perfect style of nature's 

 handiwork to the artificial criterion of floricultural art! All ad- 

 miration be due, however, to the wonderful skill of the human 

 mind, which can mould the forms of the living material world to 

 its own ideas and suggestions! We love, indeed, the simple 

 flower, as it springs from the seed long lodged in the ground, in 

 native unadorned beauty, nor have we an obtuse perception of 

 the merits of the florist's productions, be it the crimson daisy or 

 the full snowy camellia, the pride of the green-house. We 

 would unite in happy combination the taste of the florist and of 

 the botanist, nor know we why they should be separated. 



Two other species of the present genus are familiar to every 

 flower grower — we mean /femerocallis japonica and H. ccerulea. 

 The former, with its unique and elegant tubular corols, so white 

 and so fragrant, — who has not appreciated its merits? We have 

 often seen it cultivated with signal success as a pot plant, the oc- 

 casional division of its roots and the renewal of soil being the 

 only requisites to its management. An erroneous notion is some- 

 what prevalent that it is tender; while, on the contrary, its per- 

 fect hardihood in enduring, in the open border, the severest win- 

 ters, commends it to universal culture. The other, //. caerulea, 

 or blue day lily, has long been a favorite flower in the garden, 

 and may be observed as an evident pet, equally in the more mod- 

 ern or antiquated. Mr. Salisbmy has seen fit to separate it, in 

 order to form the genus Sausourea, and we do not see why //. 

 japonica should not share the same or similar honor. 



