2448 



PANCRATIUM 



PANCRATIUM 



Hymenocallis) 2 basal collateral ovules. Bulb tuni- 

 cated: Ivs. linear to lorate, mostly appearing with the 

 fls., the latter in an umbel terminating an erect solid 

 mostly stout scape or peduncle and white or greenish; 

 perianth funnel-shaped, with a long tube, the segms. 

 equal, short and spreading or ascending; stamens 

 inserted at the throat of the perianth and joined by a 

 web or cup: fr. a loculicidally 3-valved caps, with 



2741. Pancratium: types of three sections. 



At the right, the short perianth-tube and small staminal cup of 

 P. illyricum. At the left, the relatively short tube and large cup of 

 P. maritimum. At the top, the long tube and small cup of P. tere- 

 cundum, to which P. tortuosum is very closely allied. (From B.M. 

 and B.R.) 



angled black seeds. Species 14 or more in the Medit. 

 region, eastward to India and southward in Afr. Pan- 

 cratiums and hymenocallis, sometimes called spider- 

 lilies or spirit-lilies, form a beautiful group of [bulbs, 

 hardy or tender, some blooming in winter, others in 

 summer, and all characterized by the beautiful floral 

 structure known as a staminal cup. This cup is white 

 and has the texture of petals. It is fringed or toothed 

 in a great variety of ways. The filaments growing out 

 of the cup are long or short. The perianth-segms. are 

 usually long, slender, and gracefully recurved. 



The species of pancratium, coming as they do from 

 Africa, southern Asia, and southern Europe, in most 

 cases need a high temperature while in growth and a 

 period of rest after flowering. The "rest" is secured by 

 placing them in a house where there is plenty of ventila- 

 tion and a cooler temperature. Gradually withhold 

 water, giving only just sufficient to keep in a life-like 

 state. The bulbs should be kept in this semi-dry state 

 through the winter. After the middle of January, they 

 may be repotted or have a top-dressing. For a compost, 

 use a good strong loamy soil four parts, well-decayed 

 cow-manure one part. When the roots get well through 

 this compost, liquid manure will be useful once a week. 

 Those bulbs that do not need repotting may have some 

 of the old compost removed, but care must be taken 

 not to injure any of the roots. They may now be placed 

 in a house with a night temperature of 60. As growth 

 progresses, the temperature may be increased at night 



to 65 or 70 and at day, with sun, from 80 to 85. 

 Keep well up to the glass so their growth will be as 

 stocky as possible. In their growing season, they will 

 consume large quantities of water, and they should 

 never become entirely dry at the roots. Give plenty of 

 syringing in bright weather, and ventilate so as to keep 

 temperature right. When they show flower, they may 

 be given a drier and more airy house. For a winter 

 temperature, 50 to 55 will be high enough, with 

 about 10 increase with sunshine. Pancratiums can be 

 increased by offsets and seed. The offsets may be 

 separated from the parent plant and placed rather 

 close in pans in a light mixture of equal parts of leaf- 

 mold, peat, and sand, given good drainage. When 

 they have made a few roots, they may be potted up 

 into small pots and grown on. When sowing seed, pre- 

 pare some pans by giving plenty of drainage and filling 

 with a mixture of leaf-mold, peat, and sand, screening 

 some of it fine for the top. Sprinkle the seed all over 

 the surface and coyer with the fine mixture, press 

 firmly and give ordinary stove temperature. Main- 

 tain an even moisture with these pans. When they 

 start to come up, place well up to the glass. When 

 large enough, prick out into other pans or flats, using a 

 heavier compost. Pot off when larger and grow without 

 rest through the winter. In the spring they will require 

 5- or 6-inch pots. Their management from this on will 

 be that already mentioned. Give light fumigations 

 often in order to keep down aphids and thrips. Scale 

 and mealy-bug, which often get into the axils of the 

 leaves, can be removed by the use of a soft brush. 

 (J. J. M. Farrell.) 



A. Perianth-tube 3-6 in. long. 

 B. Segms. more than 2 in. long. 



tortuSsum, Herb. Bulb globose, 2 in. or less diam., 

 with long cylindrical neck: Ivs. 6-12, linear, spirally 

 twisted, 1 ft. or less long, with the fls., the latter 2-4 

 in an umbel: perianth-tube 5-6 in. long, the segms. 

 linear and ascending, greenish; staminal cup over 1 in. 

 long, distinctly toothed between the short free tips of 

 the filaments. Autumn and winter. Arabia and Egypt. 



BB. Segms. 1% in. long. 



verecundum, Ait. Fig. 2741. Bulb globose, 2 in. 

 diam., with long cylindrical neck: Ivs. 6-10, sword- 

 shaped, appearing with the fls.: peduncle compressed, 

 1 ft. long; fls. 2-6, white, with greenish tube, fragrant; 

 tube 3-4 in. long; segms. linear; staminal cup or corona 

 1 in. or less long, bifid between the free filaments. 

 India. B.R. 413. 



AA. Perianth-tube 1-3 in. long. 

 B. Staminal cup small, 3-4 lines long. 

 illyricum, Linn. Fig. 2741. Bulb very large: Ivs. 

 5-^), strap-shaped, glaucous, lJ^-2 in. wide, appearing 

 with the fls.: scape 1 ft. or more long; fls. white, 6-12 

 in a centripetal umbel; perianth-tube 1 in. long, green; 

 segms. \y<i in. long; staminal cup with long narrow, 

 2-cut teeth; free portion of filaments 6-9 lines long: 

 seeds not compressed. Summer. Corsica, Sardinia, 

 Malta, S. Italy. B.M. 718. Gn. 48, p. 246. Hardiest, 

 commonest and perhaps the best. 



BB. Staminal cup large, 1 in. long. 

 maritimum, Linn. Figs. 2741 and 1936, Vol. III. 

 Bulb globose, 2-3 in. diam. and with a neck: Ivs. 5-6, 

 linear, glaucous, persistent, becoming 2-2^ ft. long: 

 fls. white, very fragrant, 5-10 in an umbel on a com- 

 pressed scape or peduncle; perianth-tube 2-3 in. long; 

 segms. linear, \y% in. long, ascending; staminal cup 

 very prominent, the teeth short, triangular and regular; 

 free part of filaments 3 lines long. Spain to Syria. 

 B.R. 161. 



P. Amdncxs, Ker=Hymenocallis Amancaes (see suppl. list, p. 

 1627). P. amdenum, Andr.=H. ovata. P. calathinum, Ker=H. 

 ealathina. P. caribxum, Linn.=H. caribsea. P. coronarium, Le 



