HYDROT.ENIA HTMEXOCALLIS. 157 



The Hyacinth ir fabled to ! 5ve sprung forth from the 

 blood of the fair-haired Hyacinth us, when accidentally 

 killed by the quoit of Apollo. Others derive it from 

 Cynthus, one of the names of the god himself, associated 

 with violets a name, too, that might be taken to be ex- 

 pressive of the surpassing beauty and delightful fragrance 

 of the Hyacinth. 



HYDROT^NIA. 



A syfionym of Tigridia. 



HYMENOCALUS. 



Many of the species that comprise this family were 

 formerly included in Choretis, Ismene and Pancratium. 

 H. rotata and H. speciosa are native bulbs, common from 

 North Carolina to Florida, and also in the West Indies. 

 They are so closely allied to Pancratium as not to be dis- 

 tinguished by the casual observer. They are all 

 swamp plants, and require to be grown in the green- 

 house. Large numbers are sold under the name of 

 Cuban Lilies. The flowers, in all the species, are white 

 or yellow, and of the same general character. 



The Mexican Lily (H. Choretis) is a native of Texas 

 and Mexico. It grows freely in a light sandy soil in the 

 open border, or may be grown in pots in the greenhouse. 

 The flowers are very beautiful, pure white, with a green 

 eye and a greenish stripe. The bulbs require rest from 

 November until May, during which time they should be 

 kept dry and in a frost proof room. 



The Peruvian Daffodil (Ismene) is remarkably hand- 

 some, and should be grown as generally as the Gladiolus, 

 or other summer-flowering bulbs. It thrives in the 

 poorest sandy soil, if dry; the only condition it does 

 not like is too much moisture. The bulbs can be taken 

 up in the autumn, and stored during winter in the same 

 manner as the Gladiolus. One of the two cultivated 

 species is H. Amancaes, the sacred flower of the Peru- 



