172 BULBS AND TUBEROUS-ROOTED PLANTS. 



equalled by that of any other flower, comes from the 

 Levant. Asia furnishes the L. chalcedonicum and the 

 L. monadelphum, the latter varying in some respects 

 slightly, and sold under several specific names ; Siberia 

 furnishes the lovely little L. tenuifolium, which is 

 there used as an article of food ; most of the other spe- 

 cies are scattered over Europe. Thus, it will be seen, 

 the species have a wide geographical range. With the 

 exception of those found in Japan and California, within 

 certain limits the species bear a close resemblance in 

 their generic characters. In Japan nearly every form 

 and color the genus affords is to be found, with some 

 peculiarities exclusively her own ; characters that go to 

 make up flowers superior in point of true beauty and 

 loveliness to any of the species native elsewhere, always 

 excepting L. candidum, which has no equal. 



In each of the species there is a marked variation in 

 the color and shape of the flowers, in the height and gen- 

 eral habit of the plant ; though not enough to be termed 

 specific, yet sufficient to establish a variety entitled to a 

 distinctive name. By systematic selection the grower 

 has been enabled to multiply varieties to an almost un- 

 limited extent. One dealer in Holland has listed in his 

 catalogue fifty varieties of Thunbergianum, nearly as 

 many of Umbellatum, thirty-five varieties of Speciosum 

 (Lancifolium), twelve of Tigrinum, eight of Candidum, 

 and so on through the list. In either case from one to 

 six varieties would fairly represent the species and avoid 

 great confusion in nomenclature. The multiplication of 

 varieties of the Lily has caused the beginner sad annoy- 

 ance ; his unpracticed eye fails to discern the fine shades 

 and markings, that seem so important to the enthusi- 

 astic grower, and he naturally concludes that he has but 

 one variety under several names. In a measure, he is 

 correct, as is any one that buys any number of scarlet 

 Pelargoniums, or Verbenas, to which the grower has given 



