24:8 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-BOOTED PLANTS. 



ble, and water as required. They will at once show, by 

 the drooping of the foliage, any neglect in this respect 

 they may receive ; they will soon come into flower, and 

 continue for two or three months. This species would 

 be well worth growing for the beauty of its foliage, 

 which is very large and massive. After flowering, grad- 

 ually withhold water; when the foliage dies down, set 

 the pots away where the soil will keep perfectly dry, 

 until it is time to start them into growth, when they 

 should be repotted. They increase rapidly, and are 

 natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



O. luteola. Another Cape species, and our first 

 choice for a winter flowering bulb, either in the green- 

 house, conservatory or window garden. It must, in all 

 respects, be treated like the foregoing, and if it cannot 

 have plenty of sunlight there is no use attempting its 

 growth. The flowers are golden yellow, produced in 

 large terminal clusters on long slender scapes. It is a 

 persistent and continuous bloomer. It can be planted 

 out on a shallow greenhouse bench, and for months the 

 bench will appear a mass of bloom. 



O. rosea (Floribunda). See Page 247. 



O. versicolor. A splendid border plant, quite as 

 ornamental in foliage as in flower; the flowers are small, 

 but produced in such quantity as to make a pleasing 

 effect. 



O. lasiandra (Woolly-stamened). Very effective 

 as a border plant, and a continuous bloomer. It should 

 be used as an edging, for which there is no plant more 

 suitable. The leaves are very large, dark green, and 

 having seven to twelve divisions. The bulbs of this and 

 of the preceding species should be taken up after the 

 first frost, and stored in a cool cellar, free from frost. 

 They increase rapidly by offsets, which will flower the 

 first season. 



O. cernua. A synonym or variety of 0. luteola. 

 We were never able to detect any difference. 



