52 



THE AAIERICAX BOTANIST 



The newly advertised ''Byzantine or Wonder Lily" may 

 be flowered in the same way. The flowers are a beautiful 

 shade of pink. Several bulbs grouped together will give a fine 



cluster of bloom. I have been unable 

 to find the scientific name of this 

 plant, but it appears to be identical 

 with our autumn crocus, which will 

 flower in the same manner. It is 

 probably Colchicuin Byzantinuin, a 

 native of Trasylvania and Constanti- 

 nople. These bulbs contain only suf- 

 ficient food to produce a flower. The 

 process of flowering exhausts the 

 supply and causes them to dry up. 



Interesting experiments may be 

 carried on in the same manner with 

 a number of other plants. The resur- 

 rection plant {SclagincUa Icpido- 

 phylla), is wonderfully interesting. 

 In a dried condition it is to all ap- 

 pearances as dead and valueless as 

 a dried-up pig-weed, but place it in 

 a saucer of water and see what hap- 

 pens ! The leaflets gradually unfold 

 into as beautiful a rosette as one 

 could wish. The plant is really dead, 

 but the absorption of water causes 

 the leaflets to expand and the bright 

 green upper surface gives the appear- 

 ance of life. It is a native of Texas 

 and Mexico southward to Peru. 



The Rose of Jericho (Auafafica 

 Hicrochiuitica) is another notable 



The Devils Tongue resurrection plant. It is an annual 



