HARDY PLANTS FORCING 419 



703. Ixias, botanical classification. Order, Iridacese ; 

 genus, Ixia (Greek, bird-lime, referring to the character of 

 the juice) ; species, maculata. 



704. Botanical characters. Bulbous plants with 

 grass-like foliage and long spikes of showy flowers in early 

 spring. The spike bears from six to twelve flowers, each 

 one and one-half to two inches across. They embrace a 

 wide range of colors, being white, yellow, orange, blue, 

 pink or red. Most forms have a dark brown spot, or 

 " eye," in the center of the flower. They are excellent 

 for cut-flowers. 



Habitat. Cape of Good Hope. 

 The culture is the same as for Muscari. 



