THE LILIES OF MAHABLESHWAR AND OTHERS. t 



But it is time we come to the Liliacem. Perhaps the commonest 

 plant of the order at Mahableshwar is the little Indian sqaill, Scilla 

 indicay which springs up everywhere in May, even on the much- 

 trampled Golf-ground. The uninitiated commonly refer to it as an 

 orchid, probably confusing it with the white orchid Habenaria^ which 

 springs up a little later. It has an upright raceme of small pinkish 

 flowers with long purple stamens, and looked at closely each flower can 

 be seen to have six petals (perianth-segments more properly), each pink 

 with a green stripe down the middle, turned back like a Turk's-cap 

 or Martagon lily. The flower is a near relation of the wild hyacinth or 

 blue-bell of England. The fleshy green leaves with black spots are 

 used as food, and poor people may now be seen gathering them near 

 Yeraoda. A little pinkish-white star-like flower, Iphigenia indica, 

 may be seen at the same time or a little later, and later still, when 

 visitors have mostly left the hills, appears a pretty white flower with 

 yellow anthers, Chlorophytum breviscapum. It may be seen in July, in 

 compounds in Kirkee and near Yeraoda Jail, carpeting the ground 

 like snowdrops, which it much resembles though not so tall. A taller 

 species, Chlorophytum orchidastrum, bears similar flowers on a scape 

 two feet high. This appears at Mahableshwar in the rains, and may 

 also be found at Sakharpathar. Another lily which, though not seen 

 at Mahableshwar, must on no account be passed over is the grand 

 climber, Gloriosa superba, fitly described by its name. The long 

 reflexed waved petals are scarlet and yelJow. The only other members 

 of the order at Mahableshwar are both climbers and very unlike lilies. 

 Smilax macrophylla has broad oval leaves with strong veins not 

 parallel^ insignificant greenish flowers, and conspicuous clusters of 

 shining green berries, red when ripe. The Asparagus creeper, 

 Asparagus racemosus, has pointed cladodes in place of leaves and 

 racemes of small white fragrant flowers. A standard Asparagus, with 

 no tendency to climb, is found near Poena and is perhaps Asparagus 

 Jacquemontii, A lovely climber, Myrsiphyllum asparagoides, has lately 

 been introduced into Bombay gardens. 



The lily of Mahableshwar gardens is the Blue African lily 

 Agapanthus umbellatus, which belongs to the same tribe as the homely 

 necessary onion and the intrusive garlic. It does not do well in lower 

 regions. Hemerocallis fulva^ the Day lily, is sometimes seen. It 



