AFRICAN LILY. 



dpapnrtthns umbellatus. 



jOTHING that the great African 

 continent has given us in the 

 way of flowers can surpass in 

 value the glorious old African 

 lily, which brings the rare 

 blue colour into the great 

 family of lilies. From Africa 

 we have the magnificent ter- 

 restrial orchids called disas, 

 any number of heaths and 

 pelargoniums, not a few of 

 the finest palms, and the hard- 

 leaved eycads. But for use- 

 fulness, the agapanthus stands 

 alone ; and if we are called 

 upon to find a companion for 

 it, the Valletta purpurea shall 

 have the preference over all 

 other African plants; and 

 this, although called Scar- 

 borough Lily," is, strictly 

 speaking, an amaryllis. The 

 agapanthus, or African lily, 

 has been classed as a crinum, as a hyacinth, as a polyanthus, 



