TUBEROSE 



TUBEROSE 



Polidntlies tuberdsa. 

 Greek, polios white or brilliant, anlhos flower. 



Rootstock. — Tuberous. 



Stem.— Tvio to three feet high with eight to twelve reduced leaves; 

 basic leaves six to nine to a stem, linear. 



Perianth. — White, waxen in texture; tube long, narrowly funnel- 

 shaped, curved. 



Segments. — Short, unequal. 



Stamens. — Six inserted on the middle of the tube. 



Ovary. — Three-celled, free at apex; stigmas three. 



The Tuberose is a flower that may be said to have experienced 

 in its many changes "the slings and arrows of outrageous fort- 

 une." Once borne upon the very crest of fashion, associated 

 with the camellia in the most aristo- 

 cratic period of that flower's social 

 reign, it has so fallen that there are 

 few to do it honor, either in house or 

 garden. Two causes have contrib- 

 uted to bring about this change in its 

 social status: its heavy odor and its 

 funereal associations. Then, too, gar- 

 den ideals have changed, and the 

 stiff, clumsy stalk laden with stiff, 

 heavy blossoms, does not and cannot 

 harmonize with the tousled beauties 

 whose sway is now unquestioned. As 

 a matter of fact the double Tuberose 

 never did harmonize with any other 

 flower; it never was anything but a 



, , , . ^ Tuberose. PoUdnlhes luberbsa 



lump of cldymg sweetness. 



The English name of the plant gives us an interesting example 

 of the ease with which a word may be turned from its real meaning 

 and be made to express something quite different. To most of 



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