OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 103 



however, not wanting in beauty, produced as they are on stems 

 nearly 2ft. high, and nude with the exception of one or two very 

 small leaves. The floral part of the stem will be 8in. or more in 

 length; the flowers are numerous, 2in. long, trumpet-shaped, 

 drooping, and so arranged that all fall in one direction; the 

 colour is lilac, with stripes of purple and white ; each flower is 

 supported by a bract, which, like the foliage, is margined with 

 white. The leaves are Gin. to Sin. long, oval-lanceolate, waved 

 and ribbed, of a dark green colour, margined with white ; the 

 leaf stalks are stout, Gin. long, and broadly channelled. 

 Flowering period, June to August, 



Funkia Sieboldii. 



SIEBOLD'S PLANTING-LEAVED LILY; Nat. Ord. LILIACE.&. 

 THIS is a grand plant ; the lily-like flowers alone are sufficient 

 to commend it, but when we have them springing from such a 

 glorious mass of luxuriant and beautiful foliage, disposed with a 

 charming neatness rarely equalled, they are additionally effective. 

 The illustration (Fig. 40) gives a fair idea of the form and 

 dimensions of a specimen three years ago cut from the parent 

 plant, when it would not have more than two or three crowns, so 

 it may be described as very vigorous ; and, as if its beauties 

 were not sufficiently amplified by flowers and form of foliage, the 

 whole plant is of a rich glaucous hue, rendering it still more 

 conspicuous and distinct. It is herbaceous and perfectly hardy, 

 though it comes from the much warmer climate of Japan, whence 

 are all the species of Funkia. It is a comparatively new plant in 

 English gardens, having been introduced into this country only 

 about fifty years ; still, it is pretty widely distributed, thanks, 

 doubtless, to its exceptionally fine qualities. I know no plant 

 more capable of improvement as regards size than this; if set in 

 rich deep soil, it will in a few years grow to an enormous speci- 

 men. One so treated in my garden is 4ft. to 5ft. in diameter, 

 and about the same height when the flower-stems are fully 

 developed. I should, however, add that this is an unusual 

 size, but it, neverthelesss, indicates what may be done by high 

 culture. 



The flowers are produced on nude stems, 2ft. or 4ft. high, 

 being arranged in somewhat short and irregular one-sided spikes ; 

 they spring singly from the axils of rather long bracts (see 

 Fig. 40) and have long bending pedicels, which, cause the flowers to 

 hang bell fashion ; their colour is a soft pale lilac, nearly white. 

 Size, lin. to 2in. long, and bell or trumpet shaped. They are of 

 good substance, and last a long time in fine form. The leaves 

 have radical stalks, nearly 2ft. long in well-grown specimens, 

 gracefully bending and deeply channelled ; they are from Sin. to 

 12in. long, and about half as wide, long heart-shaped, somewhat 



