STEENBBKGIA 



NARCISSUS OBDEB 



ZBPHYEANTHES 



909 



without any foliage. During the winter 

 they may be covered with leaves or litter 

 as a protection against frost, and there is 

 no necessity to move them for 2 or 3 

 years. The bulbs should be planted about 

 4-6 in. beneath the surface of the soil. 



S. colchiciflora. — A very old garden 

 plant, native of S. Europe and Asia 

 Minor, with ovoid bulbs ^-| in. through, 

 bearing 4-6 erect linear leaves 3-4 in. 

 long in spring with the seed pods. The 

 pale yellow, sweet-scented flowers, over 

 1-j in. long, appear in autumn on a very 

 short, almost subterranean stalk. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



S. fischeriana. — A pretty Caucasian 

 species similar to S. lutea, but differs in 

 producing its large yellow Crocus-like 

 flowers in spring instead of autumn. 



Cultiire Ac. as above. 



S. lutea (J.mar2/ZZis lutea). — Winter 

 Daffodil ; Yellow Star Flower. — This 

 beautiful plant, which is found wild on 

 both sides of the Mediterranean eastwards 

 to Syria and Persia, is supposed to be the 

 ' Lily of the Field ' alhided to in the 

 Scriptures. It has been grown in this 

 country over 300 years, and is known by 

 its ovoid bulbs 1-2 in. in diameter, bear- 

 ing 5-6 strap-shaped leaves 1 ft. long and 

 i in. broad in September and October at the 

 same time as the flowers. The large bright 

 yellow flowers, over 2 in. long, are borne 

 on slender stalks and nestle among the 

 foliage. There are several forms of this 

 species, including anguaiifoUa, with nar- 

 rower leaves and smaller flowers ; major 

 with broader leaves and larger flowers 

 than the type ; grceca, from Greece, with 

 very short leaves and flower-stalks ; and 

 sicula from Sicily, having larger flowers, 

 but with more acute and narrower seg- 

 ments. The typical 8. lutea is apt to die 

 out, and is not so free or vigorous as some 

 of its varieties — especially amgustifolia. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



S. macrantha (8. latifolia). — A beau- 

 tiful species from the mountains of 

 Smyrna and other parts of Asia Minor, 

 with round bulbs 1-1 J in. thick, having a 

 neck 4-6 in. long, and covered with pale 

 or brown tunics. The blunt and slightly 

 glaucous strap-shaped leaves are fully de- 

 veloped in June, but the bright yellow 

 flowers, three times as large as those of 

 8. lutea, with oblong segments about Ij 

 in. broad, are not produced until Septem- 



ber and October, on a stalk as long as the 

 bulb neck, and issuing from a spathe 8-4 

 in. long. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



ZEPHYRANTHES (Zephyr 

 Flower). — A genus of bulbous plants with 

 narrow leaves usually produced at the 

 same time as the red, white, or yellow 

 flowers. These are always solitary on 

 a long slender hollow scape, issuing from 

 a spathe-like bract. Perianth funnel- 

 shaped, erect, or slightly inclined, with 

 almost equal segments. Stamens inserted 

 near the throat or middle of the tube. 



Culture and Projpagation. — Mr. Baker 

 describes 34 species of Zephyr Flowers 

 in his ' Handbook of the Amarylhdese,' 

 but only a few of these are really hardy 

 enough for outdoor cultivation in the 

 British Islands. Outside botanic gar- 

 dens they are not very weU known, 

 but if grown in warm smuiy borders, in 

 stifiish, sandy well-drained loam, and in 

 fairly large masses, they are very hand- 

 some. An odd plant here and there has 

 a rather desolate appearance, and gives 

 one the impression of living against its 

 wiU. The bulbs may be left in the 

 ground for 2 or 3 years, but during the 

 winter months should be covered with 

 leaves or litter to protect them from 

 severe frosts, and also to throw off cold 

 rains, which are not beneficial during that 

 dormant period. Plants may be increased 

 by the offsets from the bulbs, or by means 

 of seeds, which are freely produced and 

 readily germinate in gentle heat in the 

 greenhouse. 



The following are the best kinds for 

 outdoor culture, so far as present ex- 

 perience goes : — 



Z. Andersoni (better known as Habran- 

 tJius Andersoni) from Monte Video is 

 fairly hardy in the mildest parts of the 

 country. It has pale green narrow leaves 

 5-6 in. long, and flowers which are 

 yellow inside and coppery red outside, 

 borne on slender scapes 3-6 in. long, in 

 summer. It is not so showy as the other 

 species. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



Z. Atamasco (Amaryllis Atamasco). 

 Atamasco Lily. — A beautiful species from 

 the damp woods and fields of Virginia, 

 with short-necked ovoid bulbs less than 

 1 in. thick, bearing 4-6 bright green 

 narrow linear leaves. The scentless 

 flowers, 3 in. long, are borne in early 



