26 



HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



crowns, and nearly as many spikes of bloom just beginning to 

 unfold, is one of the most lovely objects in my own garden. 



The chaste flowers are 2in. long, six sepalled, lily-shaped, of a 

 transparent whiteness, and sweetly perfumed ; filaments white, 

 and long as the sepals ; anthers large, and thickly furnished 

 with bright orange-yellow pollen; the stems are round, stout, 

 18in. high, and produce from six to twelve flowers, two or three 

 of which are open at one and the same time. The leaves are long, 

 thick, with membranous sheaths, alternate and stem-clasping, 

 or semi-cylindrical; the upper parts are lanceolate, dilated, 



FIG. 13. ANTHERICUM LILIASTRUM. 

 (Plant, one-sixth natural size ; blossom, one-fourth natural size.) 



subulate, and of a pale green colour. The roots are long, fleshy, 

 brittle, and fasciculate. 



This plant for three or four weeks is one of the most decora- 

 tive ; no matter whether in partial shade or full sunshine, it not 

 only flowers well, but adorns its situation most richly; the 

 flowers, in a cut state, are amongst the most useful and effective 

 of hardy kinds indeed, they vie with the tender exotics. 



Flowering period, June and July. 



