SCILLA 



THE BULB BOOK 



SCILLA 



leaves 4 to 9 ins. long, J to 1 in. 

 broad, and dense racemes of small 

 blae flowers with spreading segments 

 (Bot. Mag. t. 8035). 



S. monophylla {S. pumila). — A 

 pretty Spanish Bluebell, having soli- 

 tary leaves 6 to 9 ins. long, and blue 

 or violet flowers in April and May, 

 borne in rather loose clusters (Hot. 

 2Iag. t. 3023). 



S. natalensls. — A rare species from 

 Natal, having strap-shaped lanceolate 

 leaves 8 to 12 ins. long, and spreading 

 conical trusses of pale yellow or 

 creamy flowers in April {Bot. Mag. t. 

 5379; Fl. d. Serr. t. 1043). Green- 

 house. 



S. peruviana, the CuBAlT LiLY. — 

 A native of the Mediterranean region, 

 and not of Cuba or Peru as might be 

 imagined from the names. It has 

 large whitish pear-shaped bulbs, and 

 rosettes of strap-shaped leaves 6 to 12 

 ins. long, fringed with white hairs. 

 The beautiful blue starry flowers are 

 borne in May and June, in dense, 

 broadly conical clusters often 6 ins. 

 across. {Bot. Mag. t. 749.) 



The variety glabra has lUac flowers 

 and leaves without hairy margins ; 

 and alha has white flowers. 



The bulbs of this species should be 

 planted from 4 to 6 ins. deep in 

 warm and sheltered spots. In severe 

 winters they should be protected with 

 some litter or bracken. 



S. pratensis. — ^A Dalmatian species 

 with narrow leaves 6 to 12 ins. long, 

 and clusters of blue bell-shaped 

 flowers in April and May {Bot. Reg. 

 1839, t. 63). 



S. puschkinioides. — A pretty little 

 Squill from Turkestan, having narrow 

 leaves and trusses of erect starry pale 

 blue flowers in April and May 

 {Gartenfl. 1051, f. 1). 



S. siblrica {S. amcena sihirica ; S. 

 amcenula). — A well-knovrai and popu- 

 lar Siberian Squill, having ovoid 



bulbs, lance-shaped channelled leaves 

 4 to 6 ins. long, and loose racemes of 

 drooping starry bell-shaped flowers, 

 varying from light porcelain blue to 

 deep blue, with a deeper coloured 

 central line {Bot. Mag. tt. 1025, 2408). 



Fig. 313.—Scitta sibirica. (J.) 



There are a few varieties of which 

 alia is pure white and charming ; 

 amcemda is dwarfer than the type, 

 and produces its brighter blue flowers 

 earlier in the year ; the variety trmlti- 

 Jlm-a has more flowers than in the 

 type ; and lilacina has lavender-tinted 

 blossoms. 



The Siberian Squill flowers as early 

 as February, and is particularly valu- 

 able for planting beneath early- 

 flowering deciduous trees and shrubs ; 

 as well as for the rockery and flower- 

 border or greenhouse decoration. 



S. socialis. — A very rare species 

 from Natal, flowering about Novem- 

 ber in a state of cultivation. 



S. villosa. — A rare Moroccan species, 

 with leaves 3 to 6 ins. long, ciliated 



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