HEDYCHIUM 



THE BULB BOOK 



IJEDYCHIUl 



Amaryllidese. — This genus contains 

 only one species, viz. — 



H. pusilla (Sternbergia america/na ; 

 Zephyranthes pusilla). — A rare little 

 plant from Buenos Ayres and Monte 

 Video, having roundish long-necked 

 bulbs about 1 in. thick, and narrow 

 linear leaves developed in winter. 

 The short ■ hypogseous peduncle 

 appears about March, bearing a soli- 

 tary, erect, whitish flower having a 

 very slender perianth-tube, 1 to 2 ins. 

 long, tinged with green. {Gard. 

 Chron. 1899, xxvi. 112.) 



Sandy loam, with a little peat and 

 leaf-mould, seems to be the best 

 compost for this plant, which should 

 be grown either in a cold frame or 

 planted 3 to 4 ins. deep in a sheltered 

 border. Increased by offsets. 



HEDYCHIUM Qiedys, sweet ; chion, 

 snow ; in allusion to the snow-white 

 sweet-scented flowers of some species). 

 Nat. Ord. Scitamineae. — A genus, 

 closely related to K^mpfeeia and 

 CuitcuMA, having horizontal tuberous 

 root-stocks from which arise tall stems 

 furnished with large Canna-like 

 leaves, and bearing terminal spikes 

 of white, scarlet, or yellow flowers. 

 Calyx-tube three-toothed ; corolla- 

 tube elongated with narrow, equal, 

 spreading lobes. The staminodes re- 

 semble petals, being oboval-oblong, 

 spoon-shaped, or broadly ovate ; the 

 lip is also petaloid, large, notched, 

 or deeply cleft. Stamen one, with a 

 very long filament. 



With the exception of //. pere- 

 grinum, from Madagascar, the Hedy- 

 chiums, or "Garland Flowers" as 

 they are called, are all natives of 

 Tropical Asia, the species in cultiva- 

 tion coming chiefly from India, the 

 Himalayas, SUhet, Khasia, Java, 

 Malaya, etc. They are ornamental in 

 foliage and blossom, and may be 

 grown easily in a warm greenhouse or 



268 



stove either in pots or tubs, or plaritec 

 in borders in a compost of rich loan 

 with some old cow-manure and sharj 

 sand added. They like plenty oi 

 water at the root when growing, and 

 also a humid atmosphere. This is 

 secured by frequent syringings, and 

 by damping down the floors or stages. 

 Indeed, the plants may be grown in 

 marshy beds or borders wherever 

 tender aquatics are grown, or the pots 

 or tubs may be stood 2 or 3 ins. deep 

 in the water. 



During the summer months such 

 species as H. coronarium, H. flavum, 

 and H. Gardneriamim may be utilised 

 for giving subtropical effects in the 

 open air if treated in the same way as 

 advised for Cannas (see p. 134). In 

 the autumn the plants should be 

 taken up, and the roots stored away 

 in cool dry places. When the flowers 

 have withered the stems should be 

 cut down, allowing the foliage to 

 wither gradually. During the winter 

 period of rest little or no water need 

 be given, and the plants require no 

 further attention until spring arrives. 

 They should then be repotted, and if 

 necessary the stock may be increased 

 by dividing the crowns just before the 

 young buds begin to sprout. A night 

 temperature of 60° F. will induce 

 good growth, and with attention to 

 watering and syringing very little 

 danger need be apprehended from 

 attacks of red spider or scale. Some 

 species bear seeds freely, and plants 

 can be raised by sowing in sandy 

 loam and peat in spring, in a 

 temperature of 70° F. The seedlings 

 when large enough to handle should 

 be transferred singly to small pots, 

 and grown on as advised for the older 

 plants. 



H. acuminatum. — This grows 3 to 

 5 ft. high, and has bi'oadly lance- 

 shaped leaves ending in a thread-like 

 point, the upper surface being smooth, 



