OPHIOPOGON 



SNAKE'S BEABD OBDEB 



TBCOPHIL^A 889 



CXX. HiEMODORACEiE— Snake's Beard Order 



An order of smooth or downy perennials with short tuberous rootstocks, tufts 

 of narrow linear leaves, and flowers in more or less dense panicles, clusters, 

 spikes, or racemes. Mowers hermaphrodite, regular or slightly irregular. 

 Perianth woolly or downy outside, with 6 distinct lobes or segments. Sta- 

 mens 6, all perfect or 1-3 reduced to staminodes. Ovary inferior or half- 

 inferior, usually 3-celled. 



There are about 120 species belonging to this order, but very few of them 

 are of garden value. 



WACHENDORFIA.— A genus with 

 about 7 species of tuberous-rooted per- 

 ennials having a few sword- shaped or 

 rarely linear leaves, soraetimes large and 

 more or less plaited. Flowers yellow in 

 terminal and often hairy panicles or 

 trusses. 



W. thyrsiflora. — -A South African 

 species about 2 ft. high with simple stems 

 and broad sword - shaped plaited leaves. 

 The yellow flowers, with 6 lance-shaped 

 acute segments, appear in early summer, 

 about a dozen in a loose erect raceme. 



Culture cmd Propagation.— Tbia, the 

 best known species, flourishes in sandy 

 peat, loam, and leaf soil, but can be re- 

 garded as hardy only in the mildest parts 

 of the kingdora. In severe winters the 

 roots should be protected from frost and 

 also cold rains by means of sheets of glass, 

 handlights, or a little bracken &c. They 

 may be increased by division of the 

 tuberous roots in spring as growth is 

 commencing or by means of seeds sown 

 ia cold frames or gentle heat when ripe. 



OPHIOPOGON (Snake's Beaed).— 

 A small genus of herbaceous plants with 

 short thickish rhizomes, tufts of long 

 linear leaves, and small violet, blue, or 

 white flowers borne in simple erect 

 racemes. Perianth segments 6. Sta- 

 mens 6. Ovary inferior 3-celled. 



Culture and Propagation. — These 

 plants are suitable for edgings to borders 

 or for growing in bold masses in flower 

 beds or nooks ia the rockery. When in 

 bloom they look ornamental, but the 

 variegated forms are most attractive 

 when not in bloom. They flourish in 

 ordinary good and well- drained garden 

 soil and may be easily increased by 

 dividing the tufts in spring. They can 

 scarcely be considered hardy except in 

 the mildest parts of the kingdom. 



O. Jaburan. — A Japanese species with 

 tufts of deep green linear leaves 1^-3 ft. 

 long, and spikes of white or lilac-tinted 

 blossoms in July. The variety variegata 

 is a beautiful plant with creamy- white or 

 yellowish bands running down the green 

 leaves. 



Culture Sc. as above. The variegated 

 form of this species is largely grown in 

 pots for greenhouse decoration. 



O. japonicus. — Another Japanese 

 species forming compact tufts of arching 

 linear leaves 9-12 in. long and having 

 white or lilac blossoms in loose spikes in 

 June. The variety va/riegatus has the 

 leaves striped with yeUowish-white and 

 is more ornamental than the type. 



Culture dc. as above. 



LIRIOPE. — A genus with only one 

 species : — 



L. spicata (OpTviopogon spicatus). — A 

 pretty Chinese and Japanese perennial 

 with tufts of radical linear lance-shaped 

 3-nerved leaves arising from a short thick 

 rhizome. The small whitish or Mac 

 bell-shaped flowers deeply divided into 

 6 segments appear late in summer and 

 are borne in spikes 6-9 in. long. 



Culture dc. as above for Ophiopogon. 



TECOPHILiEA.— A genus having 

 2 species of perennials with fibrous-coated 

 imderground corms or tubers from which 

 spring one or a few Unear lance-shaped 

 leaves. Scapes with one or few blue 

 flowers with a 6-parted perianth. Sta- 

 mens 6, attached to the throat of the 

 tube, 3 being perfect, and 3 reduced to 

 staminodes. Ovary inferior 3-celled, 

 becoming a many-seeded capsule when 

 ripe. 



T. cyanocrocus {CJdUcm Crocus). — A 

 charming Chilian plant 6-9 in. high, with 

 fibrous-coated conns, each bearing 1-3 



