178 THE ORNITHOGALUM. 



0. Arcibicum. — This handsome plant is not uncommon 

 in collections. The flowers are large, whitish, with a dark 

 centre. It requires a very sandy soil. 



0. cmreum. — A beautiful species, with yellow flowers, 

 but of somewhat difficult culture ; not growing freely or 

 flowering well. It requires sandy loam, but often remains 

 dormant two years before sending up its foliage. 



0. thyrsoides. — A fine plant, with yellow flowers, some- 

 wdmt resembling the last, but of very much easier growth. 

 The plant is a native of the Cape, and only requires planting 

 in sandy loam, and the usual culture of Cape bulbs. A fine 

 variety, flavescens, is of deeper color ; also a native of the 

 Cape, but introduced fifty years later than the species. 



Many of the ornithogalums have insignificant flowers, 

 and are not worthy the room they would occupy in the 

 greenhouse. 



Most of the species have the property of continuing to 

 expand their flowers when the spike is cut, and placed in 

 water, sometimes for several weeks, which renders them 

 valuable for parlor decoration. This is particularly the 

 case with 0. pyramidale, 0. caudatum, and 0. sulphur eum. 



