AFRICAN LILY — 587 
white, an inch long, in a dense globular head. Introduced from West 
Tropical Africa, 1872. 
D. SANDERIANA (Sander’s). An erect slender-stemmed species, 
with lance-shaped leaves a foot long, coloured grey-green, with creamy 
yellow stripes. Recently introduced from West Tropical Africa. 
The Dracenas here described are all stove plants which 
require a rich soil, and plenty of moisture and heat at all 
times. They are propagated from stem-cuttings or divisions. 
Cultivation. 
AFRICAN. LILY 
Natural Order LILIACEZ. Genus Agapanthus 
AGAPANTHUS (Greek, agape, love, and anthos, a flower). A small 
genus of tuberous-rooted perennial plants, with long, slender, strap- 
shaped evergreen leaves, springing from the root and arching. The 
flowers are large and showy, borne in an umbel on a tall scape 
Individually considered, they have funnel-shaped perianths, the tube 
short, the limb divided into six segments. There are six stamens inserted 
in the throat of the tube. The ovary is three-celled, with many ovules 
in each cell, arranged in two series. They are natives of South Africa. 
Agapanthus umbellatus was introduced from the 
Cape of Good Hope about the year 1692, and there is good 
reason for believing that it is the only species, the others being mere 
varieties of it. The only differences are such as are found in variations 
of size, breadth of leaf, and shade of colouring. 
en AGAPANTHUS UMBELLATUS (umbelled). Leaves some- 
what fleshy. Flower-scape, 2 or 3 feet high. Flowers 
bright blue, in a many-flowered umbel; July to September. 
the varieties we may mention albidus, with smaller white flowers; 
aureus, with yellow streaks down the leaves; flore-pleno, with double 
flowers ; maaimus, with larger blue or white flowers in immense umbels: 
minor, with slender leaves and smaller flowers; mooreanus, of dwarfer 
habit, more narrow leaves, and small darker blue flowers; variegatus, 
with whitish leaves, banded with green. 
In the extreme South and South-West of England 
Agapanthus may be regardéd as a hardy plant, but in 
other parts it requires winter protection i in greenhouse or conservatory. 
The most suitable compost for it is a mixture of turfy loam, well-rotted 
manure, leaf-mould, and river sand. If planted in large pots or tubs for 
History. 
Cultivation. 
