FUNKIA 



LILY OBDEB 



KNIPHOFIA 



817 



Culture (md Propagation. — Plantain 

 Lilies have striking ornamental foliage 

 produced in thick masses carpeting the 

 ground, and on this account are excellent 

 for grouping at the foot of rockeries, the 

 edges of borders and shrubberies, or near 

 the margins of lakes, ponds &o. 



They like a deep rich well-manured 

 and well-drained sandy loamy soil to pro- 

 duce luxuriant masses of foliage. They 

 are easily increased by dividing the 

 crowns in autumn or spring, the latter 

 season being the best. The plants should 

 not be disturbed for about 3 years from 

 the time of planting, and may receive a 

 mulching of manure in the autumn or 

 winter to keep the soil in a fertile con- 

 dition. 



F. Fortunei. — A beautiful Japanese 

 species about 18 in. high, closely related 

 to F. sieboldiana, with heart-shaped ovate 

 pale" green glaucous leaves having 10-12 

 curved veins on each side of the midrib. 

 The pale Ulao fannel-shaped flowers about 

 1^ in. long appear in July. There is a 

 rare form in which the leaves are orna- 

 mented with a thin yellow midrib. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



F. gfrandiflora [F. japonica). — A 

 handsome species 12-18 in. high, with 

 long-stalked ovate heart-shaped leaves 

 8-9 in. long, and trusses of pure white 

 sweet-scented flowers from July to 

 September, each one being about 4 in. 

 long. 



Culture dc. as above. Slugs are very 

 fond of the young growths in spring, and 

 a watchful eye should be kept on them. 



F. lancifolia. — A distinct plant having 

 tufts of green lanoe-shaped leaves 4-5 in. 

 long, narrowed gradually towards each 

 end. The white or lilac-tinted flowers, 

 l-li in. long, appear in August on slender 

 scapes 8-9 in. high, scarcely overtopping 

 the foliage. The variety alho-marginaia 

 is distinguished by the silvery- white edges 

 of the leaves, and undulata by its irregu- 

 larly frilled and wavy leaves ; its varie- 

 gated form has foliage heavily streaked 

 and blotched with white. Native of Japan. 



Culture dc. as above. 



F. ovata (HenierocalUs cierulea). — A 

 fine free-growing species with long-stalked 

 ovate leaves 5-9 in. long, and racemes of 

 bluish-Ulac or white flowers, produced 

 from May to July, on scapes 12-18 in. 

 high, overtopping the foliage. The variety 



viarginata has the leaves broadly edged 

 with creamy white. 



Culture dc. as above. 



F. sieboldiana. — An elegant Plantain 

 Lily with long-Stalked broadly heart- 

 shaped ovate leaves, 10-12 in. long and 

 7-8 in. broad, readily recognised by their 

 beautiful glaucous tint. The white flowers 

 2-2 J in. long, more or less suffused with 

 pale lilac, appear in summer on tall scapes 

 in 'one-sided racemes weU above the 

 foliage, and give an additional charm to 

 the plant. The variegated form, known 

 as cucullata variegata, and another called 

 medio-picta with a white midrib, are 

 both charming plants, but somewhat less 

 hardy than the type, and therefore require 

 more sheltered spots or even pot culture in 

 cold frames in winter. Native of Japan. 



Culture dc. as above. 



F. subcordata {Hemerocallis alba; 

 H. plantaginea). — A fine Japanese 

 species with heart-shaped ovate pale green 

 leaves 6-9 in. long, 3-5 in. broad, borne 

 on stalks 6-8 in. long. The pure white 

 flowers, about 4 in. long, are borne in 

 August on scapes 1^-2 ft. high. 



Other names to be found in catalogues 

 are sinensis, spathulata, univittata, and 

 viridis, but the plants they represent are 

 only forms of those described above. 



Culture dc. as above. 



KNIPHOFIA (ToECH Lily; Flame 

 Flower ; Eed-hot Pokee). — This genus, 

 which is still better known in mahy 

 gardens as Tritoma, consists of tufted 

 herbaceous plants having a short root- 

 stock with clusters of numerous thickish 

 roots, and long narrow stiffish often 

 grassy radical leaves. The showy scarlet 

 and yellow flowers are borne in dense 

 racemes or spikes on the top of tall naked 

 scapes. Perianth tubular or cylindrio 

 with united segments free at the apex. 

 Stamens 6, hypogynous, usually prqtru- 

 ding. Fruit a round or ovoid leathery 

 capsule with few seeds. 



Cultiire and Propagation. — A rich 

 sandy well-drained loam suits Knipho- 

 fias well, with abundance of water after 

 growth has started in spring, and during 

 the summer months. Most of the species 

 are easily increased by dividing the roots, 

 or detaching the suckers which are freely 

 produced by many in early spring just as 

 growth is about to begin. Seeds when 

 obtainable may also be sown in gentle 

 heat in early spring, or in cold frames 



3 G 



