BULBINE 



THE BULB BOOK 



BULBOCODIDM 



flowers from May to September. The 

 female blossoms are succeeded by red 

 berries, about J in. in diameter, in 

 autumn. 



This species flourishes in any garden 

 soil', and may be used in rough places 

 for covering trellises, arches, old 

 hedges, etc, up which it climbs by 

 means of slender, stems and spiral 

 tendrils. There is no need to pro- 

 pagate, especially as it looks after 

 itself once in a garden. Indeed it 

 may be desirable to get rid of it very 

 often. 



This plant must not be confused 

 with the Black Bryony {Tamm com- 

 munis), (which see). 



BULBINB (fiolhos, a bulb). 

 Nat. Ord. Liliaces. — A genus 

 containing about twenty-three 

 species, mostly natives of S. 

 Africa, with two in W. Aus- 

 tralia. Notwithstanding the 

 generic name indicating a bul- 

 bous nature, many of the species 

 are really fibrous or fleshy 

 rooted plants, and have been 

 much confused with the An- 

 thericums. The leaves are 

 lance - shaped or linear, and 

 often fleshy; and the small sweet- 

 scented yellow, or rarely white, flowers 

 are borne in dense racemes. 



The plants are easily cultivated 

 in any ordinary rich and sandy 

 garden soil, but require warm and 

 sheltered spots. All kinds are 

 increased by offsets in autumn or 

 in spring. 



B. Mackenl. — A handsome plant 

 from Natal, 9 to 1 2 ins. high, having 

 fleshy, fibrous root - stocks, ovate- 

 oblong, rather fleshy leaves, and erect 

 spikes of golden-yellow starry flowers 

 in summer {Bot. Mag. t. 5955). 

 Other species are : — B. australis from 

 New South Wales {Hot. Mag. t. 

 3017); B. caulesoens {Bot. Mag. t. 



816); and B. semlbarbata from Tas- 

 mania {Bot. Mag. t. 3129), all formerly 

 known as Anthericums. 



BULBOCODIUM {bolbos, a bulb; 

 hodion, wool ; in reference to the 

 woolly coatings of the bulbs). Nat. 

 Ord. Liliacese. — This genus consists 

 of one species, resembling a Crocus in 

 habit and appearance, but difiering 

 in having a superior instead of 

 inferior ovary, and six stamens in- 

 stead of three. It is closely related 

 to Merendera (which see). 



B. vernum. — A pretty plant 4 to 6 

 ins. high, with a black corm, from the 

 European Alps. The violet or rosy- 



Fia. 80. — Bulhocodium vernum, corm ; and section 

 showing new shoot, with miniature flower-spike, (f .) 



purple, funnel-shaped flowers, nearly 

 4 ins. long, are produced often as 

 early as January in mild seasons, 

 and before the broad, strap-shaped, 

 channelled leaves appear. {Bot. 

 Mag. t. 153 ; Bed. Lil. ivi t. 19/ ; Fl. 

 d. Serr. xi. 1149.) There is a form 

 with variegated leaves, and also one 

 from the Caucasus called versicolor 

 {Bot. Beg. t. 571). 



This species is suitable for growing 

 with Snowdrops, Leucojums, Winter 

 Aconites, and some of the Colchicums, 

 etc., in the rockery or warm parts of 

 the flower-border. A light, rich, sandy 

 loam suits it well, and the bulbs are 

 best left alone for three or four years 

 after planting. To increase the stock. 



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