Part II. TRITELEIA. 349 



much shaded by highly-raised root and rock work and shrubs, 

 and perfectly sheltered by the same. In like positions it may 

 be grown as well as in its native woods. Depressed shady nooks 

 in the rock-garden or hardy fernery will suit it admirably. It is 

 rather an uncommon plant ; but I once saw it selling in the 

 Nottingham market as cheaply as any common little border- 

 plant. 



There are several other species in cultivation — T. atrop'ur- 

 pureum., sessile, and pendulum, none of them equal to T. gran- 

 diflorum, but some of them pretty, and all interesting. 



TRITELEIA UNIPLORA. — Spring Starjlower. 



A NATIVE of Mendoza, in South America, with strap-shaped, 

 spreading leaves, above which the flowers stand clear. They are 

 on stems from about six to ten inches high, and are nearly an 

 inch and a half across when the plants are not grown too thickly ; 

 colour white, with delicate descending bars of pale blue on the 

 inside. The leaves, when bruised, smell exactly like those of an 

 Onion, the flowers like those of the Persian-Iris — a dehcate and 

 grateful perfume. They open with the morning sun, and are 

 conspicuously beautiful on bright days, precisely those in early 

 spring when we are most disposed to visit and admire them, 

 and close in dull and sunless weather. It comes into flower 

 with or before Scilla sibirica, and remains during the last days 

 of April stiU in effective bloom, when the vivid blue of the Squill 

 has been long replaced by green leaves. An exposed position 

 is usually a very bad one for hardy bulbs, as the leaves get 

 lacerated, and the bulbs suffer in consequence ; but from lying 

 nearly flat on the ground, the leaves of Triteleia appear to 

 escape injury from this cause ; however, the warmer and more 

 sheltered. the position and better the soil, the better the bloom. 

 Its bulbs increase as fast as those of Garlic, so that it may be 

 propagated to any extent by division. A few years ago it used 

 to be seen flowering most profusely in pots ; but having put a 

 small plant out in pure clay in a most unfavourable situation, 

 I was surprised to find my single weak root flowering boldly 

 after two hard winters in succession, and during the past few 

 years it has become a general favourite. Associated with the 

 best Scillas, Leucojum vernum, Iris reticulata, dwarf Daffodils, 



