MUSCAEI 



THE BULB BOOK 



MUSCAEI 



Nat. Ord. Liliacese.— A genus of 

 distinct and pretty bulbous plants, 

 popularly known as "Grape Hya- 

 cinths " or " Tassel Hyacinths," easily 

 recognised by the dense racemes of 

 urn-shaped globular, or oblong flowers 

 borne on the upright scapes. 



The Grape Hyacinths, which are 

 mostly natives of S. Europe, Asia 

 Minor, and N. Africa, flourish in any 

 good and deeply dug garden soil of 

 a gritty nature that is enriched with 

 weU- decayed manure. The bulbs 

 being small should be planted in 

 September, October, or November, 

 about 3 ins. deep, and 3 or 4 ins. 

 apart, in hundreds and thousands, to 

 secure a bold display of blossom in 

 spring. Being dwarf in growth — 

 from 6 to 12 ins. high — they 

 look particularly charming beneath 

 deciduous early-flowering trees, and 

 are also useful for edgings to borders, 

 nooks in the rockery, or on the edges 

 of ponds or streams. The plants 

 increase naturally by offsets, which 

 may be detached at planting time. 

 Seeds are also produced freely in 

 most cases, and may be sown in 

 spring in a light gritty compost 

 in a cold frame. Flowering plants 

 are produced in three or four years 

 from seeds. Most of the Grape Hya- 

 cinths bloom between March and 

 May. 



For early flowering in a cold green- 

 house, the Muscaris may be grown 

 in pots or pans, and are valuable for 

 this kind of decoration. 



M. aestlvale. — A native of Asia 

 Minor, 6 to 9 ins. high, with oblong 

 tubular yeUow flowers ribbed with 

 green, the upper ones being tinted 

 with purple {Bot. Mag. t. 6269). 



M. botryoides. — A charming Italian 

 species, with dense roundish clusters 

 of deep sky-blue blossoms having 

 six small white toothed segments. 

 There are forms known as alhvm, a 



charming white variety, and pal- 

 lidum, pale blue. 



M. comosum {Hyoudnthvs comosus). 

 — A native of S. Europe, with narrow 

 strap-shaped leaves 12 to 18 ins. 

 long, and loose clusters of blue 

 flowers {Bot. Mo,g. t. 133). 



The variety monstrosum is much 

 better known than the species. It 

 is the well-known "Feather Hya- 

 cinth," in which all the flowers are 

 sterile, and of a soft bluish-violet, 

 the individual blossoms having been 

 transformed into a mass of slender, 

 twisted, and wavy thread-like fila- 

 ments, the whole giving a " fluffy " or 

 feathery appearance. 



M. conicum. — A fine species from 

 Trebizond, having sweet - scented 



Fig. 253. — Musca/ri conicvm. 



bright blue fertile and pale blue sterile 

 blossoms on scapes about 9 ins. high 

 from March to May. There are 

 several fine varieties. 

 M. Heldreichi. — A native of 



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