BULBOUS PLANTS. 



55 



have, until recently, been regarded as a genus dis- 

 tinct from true Calochortus, and certainly they are 

 very different in appearance, but as they are by 

 general consent classed under Calochortus they will 

 be considered as such here. The Mariposa section 

 all have large open flowers, cup-shaped and erect- 

 In the Cyclobothra section the flowers are smaller 

 than those of the Mariposa species, and the petals are 

 in some species globular in shape on account of the 

 petals being incurved. In nearly all the species the 

 petals are covered on their inner surfaces more or 

 less densely with white hairs, and each petal bears 

 a glandular pit at its base. The leaves of all are 

 narrow and few, and of a silvery hue. The range of 

 colour is not wide, varying only from white to 

 yellow and purple, the prevailing tint being lilac. 



Culture. — The complaint that Calochorti are diffi- 

 cult to cultivate successfully is general. It is our 

 long sunless and damp winters that prevent us from 

 growing them out of doors, but if we were always 

 favoured with long hot and dry summers, we could 

 grow Calochorti to perfection. Hence they cannot 

 be classed with hardy bulbs, although they abhor 

 artificial heat. Frame culture, therefore, must as a 

 rule be followed in this country, for although in 

 favoured localities some cultivators plant the bulbs 

 out in the open border in early spring, and lift them 

 again in August or September for the winter, the 

 practice cannot be generally followed, and as the 

 species vary in degree of hardiness, they cannot be 

 grown successfully under one mode of treatment, but 

 the general principle of culture applies to all. The 

 Californian species are much hardier than those in- 

 habiting Mexico, though the latter are easier to 

 grow, as they may be treated like Gladioli and such- 

 like plants, that is, the bulbs may be planted in 

 spring, lifted in autumn, and stored dry during 

 winter. On the other hand, the Californian kinds 

 must not be kept out of soil during winter. They 

 should be planted in September or not later than 

 October, though they must be kept moderately 

 dry until the bulbs begin to develop leaves about 

 February. A warm, sunny, and thoroughly drained 

 border, with a southerly aspect, must be chosen for 

 them, and provision should be made for protecting 

 the border with glass, in order to throw off the wet, 

 until the leaves appear above the soil in early spring. 

 The most suitable soil is a rich sandy loam, the 

 lighter the better, and the bed should be raised above 

 the general level. This protection is in imitation 

 of their natural conditions, as they are invariably 

 covered with a layer of frozen snow, which protects 

 the bulbs from wet and cold, and when the snow 

 melts in spring the bulbs at once start into active 

 growth. The foliage is not abundant in any of the 

 species, and by the time the flowers appear in June 



or July the leaves curl up and wither. Most of the 

 species are remarkably floriferous, for every small 

 bulb will develop several flower-stems. The bulbs 

 of the few Mexican species may be planted in March 

 under the same conditions, and lifted, after their 

 foliage and flower-stems are decayed, and stored in 

 dry earth through the winter. After the plants are 

 in active growth they require plenty of moisture 

 about their roots, and all the light possible, so that 

 it is better to allow them to be fully exposed from 

 about March until after the flowering season, when 

 the glass may be put over the border again in order 

 to keep off rains and so induce the thorough ripening 

 of the bulbs before being lifted. When the plants 

 are thriving well annual lifting is needless. The 

 hardiest of all the Calochorti is C. pulcheUus, and this 

 species succeeds admirably when planted at the foot 

 of a warm wall. In such a position it flowers year 

 after year without any attention. 



The following species of Calochortus (including 

 those belonging to the sub-genus Cyclobothra) are 

 the principal species in cultivation, and procurable in 

 nurseries at prices varying from 2s. to 10s. a dozen 

 bulbs. 



C. {Cyclobothra) albus. — An elegant plant, growing 

 in England about six or nine inches high, but attain- 

 ing in its native habitat in California as much as 

 three feet high. The flowers are somewhat globular, 

 nodding, and white, and of wax-like texture, pro- 

 duced several together on a branching stem. The 

 variety paniculatus is a fine strong-growing variety. 



C. (Cyclobothra) Benthamii. — Avery charming little 

 plant, somewhat resembling the preceding, but with 

 narrower leaves and with the flowers nearly erect. 

 These are bright yellow, with the petals, which are 

 half an inch long, deep brown at the inner base and 

 covered with hairs. It inhabits the Sierra Nevada. 



C. (Cyclobothra) Bonplandiatms.—This species was 

 cultivated years ago in gardens under the name of 

 Cyclobothra purpurea, and is the same as Calochortus 

 purpureas. It has a branching stem about a foot 

 high. The flowers are nodding and bell-shaped, 

 with yellowish sepals and purple petals. It is found 

 in Mexico along with another and similar species. 

 C.fuscus, also a Cyclobothra, at once recognised by 

 its dull coffee-coloured flowers. C. Hartwegi is also 

 a nearly-allied species, having purplish petals with 

 dark veins. All these are natives of Mexico. 



C. (Cyclobothra) cosruleus. — A dwarf slender plant, 

 having a branching stem. caiTying from two to 

 five flowers. These are lilac, dotted and lined with 

 blue, and hairy in the interior: called also Cyclobothra 

 eleyans, C. coerulea, and Calochortus ylaucus. The true 

 C. eleyans is a similar species, but has greenish- white 

 petals, purplish at the base; and its variety nanus, 

 known also as C. LyeUi, is a very dwarf and slender 



