174 NOTES ON LILIES 



broad. Caucasus, Giildenstadt, C. A. Meyer. (I have seen it grow- 

 ing in Kew Gardens.) 



This Lily, more generally called Szovitzianum, and sometimes Colchicum, is a most 

 beautiful and rather variable species ; not merely from the unusual (canary) colour of 

 the flowers, their large size, and contrast with the ehocolate-brown anthers, but from the 

 symmetry of the pyramidal spike. Each llower, (when well-cultivated), like an evenly 

 suspended bell, hangs with base parallel to the horizon. In this respect the woodcut 

 above fails to do justice to the plant. We have had in one season over 1,500 spikes in 

 bloom, from 4 to 6 feet high, with from 4 to 20 bells on each spike, some of them (the 

 flowers) 6 inches across, most beautifully coloured, scarcely any two alike, a sight of 

 beauty that falls to the lot of but few. 



Among its many varieties, we have selected the following as especially worthy of 

 notice : 



A. A fine broad petalled form with large bells of flowers, rather pale in tint, but 

 regularly and heavily spotted with about 4 rows of dark purple spots on either edge of 

 the petal. 



B. A very rich deep canary, almost citron coloured form, with very few spots. 



C. A pale lemon tinted form, few spots. 



D. Has a deep yellow centre and paler tinted edges. 



E. A peculiar pale coloured form, very regularly and richly spotted, with pale coloured 

 anthers of a light greenish tint. 



F. The unspotted variety, of a very deep citron colour. We have been accustomed 

 to call this variety Monaddplium. According to some Liliophilists, this form (Mona- 

 delphum) differs from the type in (a) having anthers covered with lemon yellow pollen, 

 instead of chocolate brown, (b), in being earlier by three Aveeks to flower, and (c) in 

 shewing its flower buds directly it is above the ground, whereas, in the type, the buds 

 are concealed by the leaves till ready to bloom. As regards (a), we have noticed anthers 

 bearing pollen of all shades, from a pale greenish yellow to a very rich red brown. As 

 regards (b and c), we have noticed there differences, more especially in plants that have 

 been planted the previous autumn, and are not yet well established, but not with plants 

 like our own, that have been undisturbed through three winters. Cultivators must not 

 -expect to see this Lily in all its beauty, unless planted in a moist, loamy, or clayey soil, 

 .-and left undisturbed for at least two winters, then it will be magnificent. 



39. L. PolyphijUum.'D. Don in Koyle, 111. Him., 388 ; Kunth, 

 [Enum., iv., 077 ; Klotzsch, Reise Wald., 53. Punctatum, Jacquem, 

 IDuchartre, Obs., 76. (For description of bulb, see pages 1 14 and 115), 

 stem, smooth, terete, 2 to 4 feet high ; leaves, 40 to 60 in number, 

 ^ascending, scattered (or the lower ones sometimes whorled, according 

 tto Jacquemont), green, sessile, acute, smooth, minutely papillose on 

 vthe edges, resembling those of Martagon in their texture and venation, 

 4he lower ones oblanceolate, 4 or 5 inches long, 6 to 9 lines broad 

 .above the middle, the upper ones narrower and linear; peduncle, 

 naked for 5 or 6 inches below the raceme ; raceme, lax, containing 

 ifrom 4 to 10 flowers, branches often opposite ; bracts, in whorls ; 

 pedicels, nodding at the top when bearing flowers, the lower ones 

 .3 to 5 inches long; perianth, 18 to 21 lines long, fragrant, fc of a 

 livid-yellow, with claret-coloured dots" (Jacquemont); segments, 

 oblanceolate, 2 or 3 lines broad, revolute from the middle; filaments, 

 15 to 16 lines long; anthers, 4 lines long ; ovary, 6 or 7 lines long, 

 one-third shorter than the very curved style ; capsule, obovoid, 12 to 

 15 lines long, sub -acute- angled. Temperate region of the Western 

 Himalayas (Kunawar, Kashmir, &c.) ; Royle, Thomson, Jacquemont. 

 i -6,000. .t(x$>QOO feet above sea level, also in Thibet. 



