BEEMUEUS 



LILY OBDEB 



ANTHEEICUM 825' 



flower-stem is about 3 ft. high, and bears 

 a long and rather loose raceme of white 

 flowers, each about an inch across, the 

 segments having a brownish-red line 

 down the centre. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. Bungei. — A beautiful Persian 

 species with smooth green leaves about 

 1 ft. long and j in. broad, slightly ciliated 

 on the edges. The stoutish flower-stems 

 appear in June and July, and are 1-3 ft. 

 high, the upper portion being covered with 

 bright yellow flowers about 1 in. across ; 

 the reflexed segments are distinctly keeled 

 with green behind. 



Culture do. as above. 



E. himalaicus. — This is a charming 

 species from the Himalayas, where it 

 grows at an elevation of 7000-10,000 ft. 

 It has smooth, strap-shaped, acute leaves 

 about 1 ft. long, and produces its erect 

 spikes of beautiful white flowers about Ij 

 in. across in May and June on the upper 

 portion of a stout stem, which sometimes 

 attains a height of about 8 feet. ' 



Culture d-c. as above. This is one of 

 the hardiest species grown, and notwith- 

 standing its rather early flowering period, 

 does not begin to grow so soon in spring 

 as other species, and thus escapes injury 

 from the frost. 



E. kaufmannianus. — This is a recently 

 introduced species from Turkestan, and is 

 a fine addition to the yellow-flowered 

 kinds, and has moreover the additional 

 charm of being fragrant. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. Olgae. — A pretty and distinct 

 species from Turkestan with narrow 

 leaves 1-2 ft. long, and flower-spikes 2-4 

 ft. long, the upper half being densely 

 covered with pinkish-white or pale lilac- 

 purple sweet-scented flowers over 1 in. 

 across, opening in May and June. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. robustus. — A vigorous free-growing 

 species, native of Turkestan, at an eleva- 

 tion of about 10,000 ft. In well-developed 

 specimens the leaves often measure 3 ft. 

 long and 3 in. broad, while the flower- 

 stem reaches a height of 6-10 ft., the 

 upper 3 or 4 feet being covered with 

 cylindrical and slightly tapering spikes of 

 pale pink or rosy flowers each about 2 in. 

 across, and expanding in May and June. 

 As this species has long roots, the soil 

 should be partic\ilarly deep and rich. 



The variety Elweaiamis is much stronger 

 than the type, and bears immense spikes 

 of pink flowers at the same season. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. spectabilis {E. caucasicus). — A 

 variable species from Siberia, the Cau- 

 casus &c., and long cultivated in gardens. 

 It has linear strap-shaped glaucous green 

 leaves slightly channelled above and 

 obscurely keeled beneath. The flower- 

 spikes, which are 2-4 ft. high, are studded 

 with pale sulphur-yellow flowers tinged 

 with orange, and having deep orange 

 anthers. 



Culture dc. as above. 



E. turkestanicus. — A native of Turke- 

 stan with broadly linear tapering leaves 

 and stout flower-stems 2-4 ft. high, 

 covered on the upper portion with reddish- 

 brown or maroon-coloured flowers, the 

 segments of which are edged with white, 

 whUe the stamens are conspicuously pro- 

 truding. 



Culture dc. as above. 



ANTHERICUM.— A genus contain- 

 ing about 50 species of tufted herbaceous 

 perennials having short rootstocks, more 

 or less fleshy roots, and radical linear 

 leaves. The slenderly stalked flowers are 

 borne on tall, leafless, simple or branched 

 scapes furnished with linear scarious 

 bracts. The perianth, which is some- 

 times slightly twisted, has distinct rotate- 

 spreading, almost equal, 3-5-nerved seg- 

 ments, and 6 stamens hypogynous or 

 slightly adnate to the base of the seg- 

 ments. Capsule scarcely 3-lobed, few- 

 seeded. 



Culture and Propagation. — Only one 

 or two species are of any garden value. 

 They flourish in well-manured sandy loam 

 and leaf soil, which should always be well 

 drained, as the roots do not like stagnant 

 moisture. Copious waterings may be 

 given during active growth, but compara- 

 tive dryness is required during the winter 

 months. As the plants are individually 

 somewhat loose and meagre-looking, they 

 are more effective planted in large masses, 

 and may be used in the flower border,- 

 and left undisturbed for four or five years. 

 A top-dressing of manure, however, is re- 

 quired every year under these conditions 

 to replenish the nutriment taken from the 

 soil. 



The plants are readily increased by 

 dividing the tufts in autumn or early 

 spring. Seeds may also be sown as soon 



