SCHIZOSTYLIS 



FLAG OBDEB 



DIERAMA 943 



Flowers in May, pure white, opening 

 successively from the bottom of the truss 

 upwards. 



Culture dc. as above. This is the 

 best of the Libertias, but the following 

 may also be associated with it as they 

 resemble it in appearance : L. grandifiora, 

 from New Zealand, about 3 ft. high, with 

 white flowers, and L. ixioides, also from 

 New Zealand, 2-4 ft. high, with white 

 flowers and pale yellow stamens. 



SISYRINCHIUM (Blub - eyed 

 Grass ; Eush Lily ; Satin Floweb). — A 

 genus of perennial plants with short root- 

 stocks and fibrous roots, and stems equally 

 or slightly thickened at the base. Leaves 

 radical or clustered linear roundish or 

 more or less sword-like, always narrow. 

 Flowers several in a spathe, the perianth 

 having nearly equal obovate or oblong 

 lobes. Filaments united in a tube, or 

 rarely free at the base. 



There are about 50 species in this 

 genus, all natives of tropical and sub- 

 tropical America. S. angustifolium has 

 become naturalised in the bogs of 

 Western Ireland and produces its small 

 pale blue flowers in July and August. 



S. grandiflorum {Spring Belt). — A 

 beautiful perennial with a somewhat 

 creeping rootstock, and erect broadly 

 linear striated leaves 6-8 in. long, sheath- 

 ing at the base. Flowers in May and 

 June, 2 in a spathe on stems about as 

 high as the leaves. Perianth dark purple, 

 striated or white in the variety album, 

 the segments being obcordate. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 species described above is the only one 

 worth growing in the outdoor flower gar- 

 den. It is a pretty plant for the rockery 

 or garden, and should be grown in masses 

 to produce a good effect. It flourishes in 

 light peaty soil or sandy loam, and may 

 be increased by dividing the rootstocks in 

 early, spring. 



Bohartia or Homeria aurantiaca is 

 a pretty bulbous plant closely related to 

 the Sisyrinohiums. It is a native of S. 

 Africa and produces numerous rich orange- 

 red or yeUow blossoms in summer, but is 

 rather too tender for general outdoor cul- 

 tivation. In the mildest parts it may 

 grow well with protection in winter. It 

 is increased by division in autumn. 



SCHIZOSTYLIS (Crimson Flag; 

 Kaffir Lily). — A small genus of South 

 African perennials with clustered stems 



on a rootstock or slightly thickened at the 

 base and linear or narrowly sword-shaped 

 leaves. Flowers sessile in the spathes, 

 with a slender perianth tube and equal 

 oblong or ovate spreading lobes. Fila- 

 ments free. 



S. coccinea. — A handsome Gladiolus- 

 like plant 2-3 ft. high, native of Cafiraria, 

 having long sheathing sword-like leaves, 

 those from the base being longest, the 

 upper ones forming bracts. The flowers 

 appear late in September, October and 

 November, about 10-14 on a 2-ranked 

 spike, each one about 2 in. across and of 

 a bright crimson-scarlet colour with con- 

 spicuous yellow anthers. 



Culture and Propagation. — Owing to 

 its free-flowering properties this species is 

 excellent for cut bloom late in the year. 

 It prefers light rich moist soil composed 

 of loam, peat and leaf mould, and during 

 hot summers should be well drenched with 

 water frequently. Warm sheltered places 

 against a south wall or fence suit it best, 

 but the flowers should be protected from 

 frost by Hghts. Grown in pots this plant 

 makes a useful ornament for the green- 

 house late in the year. It is increased by 

 dividing the rootstocks and replanting 

 them in spring about 9 in. apart. Seeds 

 may also be sown in spring in cold frames 

 in the soil mentioned, and the seedlings 

 pricked out and grown on in the frames 

 for the first year, after which they may 

 be planted out. 



DIERAMA.— A genus with 2 or 3 

 species of plants with fibrous-coated 

 bulbs, long narrow sword-shaped leaves, 

 and flowers in terminal panicles. 

 Perianth funnel-shaped with 6 nearly 

 equal erect or spreading lobes. Stamens 

 attached at the base of the tube. Ovary 

 3-celled, becoming a membranous many- 

 seeded capsule when ripe, 



D. pulcherrima [Sparaxis pulcher- 

 rima). — A beautiful South African 

 perennial 3-6 ft. high, with sword-shaped 

 leaves, and tough slender flower stems 

 which bear numerous funnel - shaped 

 flowers gracefully drooping from thread- 

 like stalks. The blossoms are usually 

 blood-red in colour, but there are forms 

 with white and pale red tints, some being 

 prettily striped. The flowering period is 

 usually about September and October, so 

 that the blooms are sometimes injured by 

 frost. 



Culture and Propagation. ^~ This 



