FUNKIA 



THE BULB BOOK 



FUNKIA 



outside. 

 568.) 



(Gard. Chron. 1893, xiii. 



Fig. 101.— FntiUaTia WhittalU. (J.) 



FUNKIA (after R. F-imk, a German 

 botanist), Plaittain Lily. Nat. Ord. 

 Liliaceae. — ^A genus of ornamental 

 hardy plants with a short thick 

 tuberous root-stock and clusters of 

 thickish roots. Leaves large, radical, 

 stalked, oblong lance-shaped, ovate 

 or cordate, vrith distinct parallel 

 curved veins and resembling those 

 of the Common Plantain. Flowers 

 funnel-shaped, showy, white or blue, 

 more or less drooping, on tall naked 

 scapes, each one with a large bract 

 at the base. 



All the Plantain Lilies — as the 

 Funkias are called — owing to the 

 general resemblance of the leaves to 

 those of the larger common British 

 Plantain weed, are natives of Japan. 

 Apart from the blossoms, the leaves 

 themselves are very ornamental, and 

 are borne in such luxuriant tufty 

 masses that they never fail to attract. 

 The species are hardy in practically 

 most parts of the Kingdom, and 

 flourish in any good garden soil that 

 has been deeply dug, well-manured, 

 and of a somewhat gritty nature. 

 The plants are useful for the ordinarj' 

 flower-border, for the rock-garden, 



and for planting in bold masses by 

 the sides of lakes, pools, or streams. 

 They are excellent plants for shady 

 or semi-shady places, and look well 

 amongst hardy Ferns. 



The plants are best moved in 

 spring, but once established should 

 not be disturbed for several years. 

 They can be kept in good flowering 

 condition by an annual mulching of 

 well-rotted manure over the crowns 

 in early spring or late autumn. New 

 stock is easily obtained by dividing 



Fro. 162.— Funkia, seedling. 



the root-stocks in spring, leaving a 

 few buds to each portion. Funkias 

 are also easily raised from seeds sown 

 in gritty soil in spring. The sketch 

 (Fig. 162) shows a seedling, but a 

 reference to p. 41 indicates a curious 

 case when more than one plant may 

 arise from one seed. 



Slugs are very fond of the young 

 growths in spring, and a watchful eye 

 should be kept on them. Lime or 

 soot should be freely used to check 

 them. 



P. Portimei. — A beautiful Japanese 

 species about 18 ins. high, with heart- 

 shaped ovate, pale blue-green leaves, 

 having ten to twelve curved veins on 

 each side of the midrib. The pale 

 lilac funnel-shaped flowers, about l^ 

 ins. long, appear in July. There is 



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