POTTED FLOWERING PLANTS 335 



OXALIS 



504. Botanical classification. Order, Oxalidaceae ; 

 genus, Oxalis (Latin, Sour, referring to the usual acidity 

 of the foliage) ; species, many, but the most important are : 



, Bowiei ; leaves large, flowers large, bright rose-red ; 

 cernua var. Bermuda Buttercup; the leaves are deeply 

 notched, and often purplish in color ; the flowers are 

 bright yellow and grow in large compact clusters. 



505. Botanical characters. Oxalis are bulbous plants 

 with clover-like leaves. Large quantities of flowers of 

 brilliant colorations are produced, but open only in full 

 sunlight. 



Habitat. South Africa and tropical and subtropical 

 America. 



506. Culture. Oxalis are grown principally in window 

 baskets or as potted plants. They are excellent for hang- 

 ing baskets in sunny windows. They should be potted 

 in August or September, in a rich, well-drained, sandy soil 

 and placed in full sunlight. With an abundance of water, 

 growth will be rapid and they continue to bloom for a 

 long period. After they are through blooming, the pots 

 may be dried off and the bulbs will then remain dormant 

 until the following fall. They may then be re-potted and 

 started into growth for a second year. 



LILIES FOR FORCING 



507. Botanical classification. Order, Liliacese ; genus, 

 Lilium (an ancient Latin name) ; species : longiflorum, 

 candidum, myriophyllum, and specwsum var. rubrum. 

 Important varieties of longiflorum are giganteum, multi- 

 florum and eximium. 



