66 NOTES ON LILIES 



CHAPTER VII. 



M. DTJCHARTRE ON LTLTES. 



"The Present State of our Knowledge respecting, the Genus- 

 * Lily/ and the Geographical Distribution of its species." Gomptes 

 Eendus for 1871. 



" The Lily (Lilium) includes some of the most remarkable species in the 

 whole vegetable kingdom species distinguished alike by the nobility 

 and elegance of their port, their beauty, and the size and diversity of 

 colour in their flowers. Amongst them are a few of the oldest denizens- 

 of our gardens, whilst the recent efforts of botanical travellers have from 

 time to time secured the introduction of new species, which have been 

 regarded with good reason as possessing special interest. The beauty of 

 their flowers has attracted the attention of horticulturists to these plants 

 for a good many years, but by botanists they have been somewhat neg- 

 lected. Their botanic nomenclature has gradually become more and more- 

 confused, as in the majority of cases, specific names have been conferred 

 upon mere varieties, and these names have been entered in our catalogues, 

 without the slightest notice of their distinctive characteristics, whilst very 

 frequently the same plant has received different names at one and the 

 same time. Lastly, the recognised names of well-defined species have 

 occasionally and without reason been transferred to other species which 

 had previously been themselves described and named. 



" The difficulties thence arising can only be removed, by a careful and 

 painstaking study of as large a collection as possible of living and r 

 consequently, of domesticated plants. Our dried collections are for the most 

 part badly supplied with specimens of the genus, and, moreover, dried 

 specimens at the best can afford but very imperfect notions of the con- 

 figuration and colour of the flowers. 



"For some years past my efforts have been directed towards the 

 formation of a collection of this sort, but, from various circumstances, the 

 results attained were not as complete as I should have desired. Such as- 

 it was, my collection is now no more. Like others, it came to an end 

 amidst the troubles of war. (Siege of Paris). 



" This circumstance has induced me, not, indeed, to attempt a Monograph 

 of the Genus, which would necessitate a greater expenditure of time and 

 more ample materials than I have at command, but to put on record a 

 clear and definite account of the knowledge thus acquired of this lovely 

 and generic group. In the first place, it appears desirable to give a 

 succinct idea of the present state of our knowledge respecting the genus r 

 and of the additions which have been made to it from time to time. And 

 here I must not omit to express my obligations to the excellent memoranda 

 of M. M. Leichtlin, of Baden, who has long studied these beautiful 

 plants with laudable assiduity, and has succeeded in forming a collection, 

 which may be described without fear of contradiction as the finest in 

 existence (1871). 



