234 THE OPERANTHUS. 



seen starting from the top of the bulb, in rich, sandy loam, 

 in not over-large pots. The plants should be given plenty 

 of sun and air, and the hair-like stems daily twined round 

 a trellis. After the bloom has faded, the foliage turns 

 yellow, and the root should be allowed to rest. Growth 

 generally begins in autumn ; and the plant flowers in early 

 spring, resting in summer. The chief species are, 



T. brachyceras. Flowers yellow. 



T. Jarattii. Flowers scarlet and yellow. 



T. azureum. Flowers blue. 



T. tricolorum. Flowers orange, red, and purple. These 

 are among the most graceful plants in the greenhouse ; free- 

 growers, with high-colored and very curious flowers, and, in 

 T. azureum, delightfully fragrant. Trained round a balloon- 

 trellis, they make fine specimens. A singular fact in their 

 growth is, that the stem, which, where it joins the bulb, is as 

 .fine as a hair, is often found to increase in size in its 

 growth, and, in a distance of several feet, may be three or 

 four times larger. 



THE OPERANTHUS. 



This little bulb is often found in florists' catalogues under 

 the name of Amaryllis lutea. It is also called yellow colchi- 



