872 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS calochortus 



The perianthhas 6 distinct spreading 3-5- 

 nerved segments, and 6 stamens attached 

 at the base, or almost hypogynous. 



G. lutea [Ornithogalum luteum). — 

 This is the only species out of about 20 

 of any garden value. It is known as the 

 ' Yellow Star of Bethlehem,' and is a 

 native of British copses and pastures. It 

 has small roundish bulbs, and linear leaves 

 6-18 in. long. The yellow flowers, keeled 

 with green, appear from March to May, 

 3-4 in a, flat raceme on a slender scape 

 scarcely 6 in. high. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species grows in ordinai'y garden soil, and 

 is readily increased by the numerous 

 offsets from the old bulbs, after the foliage 

 has withered. 



LLOYD I A. — A genus consisting of 

 only one species : — 



L. alpina {L. serotina). — A pretty 

 little plant, native of the Alps and the 

 rocky ledges of the Snowdon range. It 

 has a small thickly scaly bulb and slender 

 half-roundish leaves 6-10 in. long, and 

 white or yellow flowers veined with green 

 or purple outside, borne in June. 



Culture amd Propagation. — In struc- 

 ture it is closely related to Gagea. It 

 is essentially a rock plant, and thrives 

 in cool partially shaded positions in 

 ordinary soil, and may be increased by 

 means of offsets from the old bulbs in 

 autumn. 



CALOCHORTUS (Makiposa Lily ; 

 Star Tulip). — A genus of beautiful 

 plants with tunioated bulbs, narrow leaves, 

 and somewhat branched few-flowered 

 stems, bearing long- stalked, showy, erect 

 or drooping flowers, yellow, bluish-purple, 

 or white in colour. The perianth consists 

 of 6 distinct segments, the 3 outer ones of 

 which are sepal-like, and much narrower 

 than the 3 larger and broader inner ones 

 which are bearded on the inside. In the 

 Cyclobothras or ' Star Tulips,' which are 

 now included with the Calochorti or 

 ' Mariposa Lilies ' proper, all the perianth 

 segments are bearded within and furnished 

 with a honey-pit in the centre. Stamens 

 6, hypogynous, or slightly adhering to the 

 base of the segments. Capsule 8-oelled, 

 3-angled, with many seeds. 



Culture and Propagation. — These 

 beautiful plants, of which there are 20 or 

 30 species, have attracted a good deal of 

 •attention in the past few years, as it has 



been proved that with a little care they 

 can be grown very satisfactorily out of 

 doors. They are usually cultivated in 

 pots or cold frames so as to be more 

 readily protected from frost, and kept dry 

 during the resting period. Being mostly 

 natives of the warm sunny climes of 

 California, Oregon, Arizona &c., and parts 

 of Mexico, they require a warm sunny 

 position and a light thoroughly well- 

 drained soil. In the British Islands, 

 indeed, the chief trouble in their culture 

 seems to be inability to thoroughly ripen 

 the bulbs after flowering. This is very 

 often due to the neglect of not keeping 

 the rain from them after the foUage has 

 withered. If treated in the same way as 

 recommended for the Oncocyclus Irises 

 (p. 918) good results will follow, and the 

 plants are worth a little trouble on account 

 of their lovely and unique flowers. 



Messrs. Wallace of Colchester, who 

 have done much to popularise these plants 

 and who have been very successful in 

 growing them in oiar variable climate, 

 may be quoted as authorities on their 

 culture. They recommend that the bulbs 

 should be planted from September to the 

 end of November, but not later, 3 in. deep 

 and about 3 in. apart, in a raised sunny 

 border with a shght slope to the south. 

 A soil composed of sharp sand, leaf soil, 

 and road grit is the best. Great import- 

 ance is attached to having the bed in 

 which they are planted raised above the 

 surrounding soil, as thorough drainage is 

 thus secured, and it is essential to keep 

 the bulbs as dry as possible in winter. It 

 is safer, especially in unfavourable parts 

 of the kingdom, to cover the beds with 

 reeds, bracken, straw &o., so as to keep off 

 heavy rains, and at the same time afford 

 protection from frost. This covering, 

 whatever it is, should be removed in 

 February and March, according to the 

 season and the growth of the plants. 

 After flowering, and when the stems have 

 withered, either the bulbs may be lifted 

 and carefully stored until planting time, 

 or a light may be placed over them to 

 keep them dry, and allow them to 

 thoroughly ripen. The latter is the better 

 plan if it can be adopted, and there is no 

 necessity to lift the bulbs for about 3 yeai-s 

 unless for the purpose of increasing the 

 plants by means of the offeets from them. 



The main points to remember in grow- 

 ing Mariposa Lilies are early planting, a 

 light porous soil, sunny position, thorough 



