BI-GENERIC HYBRIDS BETWEEN COOPERIA AND ZEPHYRANTHES . 531, 



BI-GENEBIO HYBEIDS BETWEEN COOPERIA AND ZEPHYR- 

 ANTHES PEODUCED AT THE AGEICULTUEAL AND 

 HOETICULTUEAL SOCIETY'S GAEDENS, ALIPOEE, 

 CALCUTTA. 



By S. Percy Lancaster, F.E.H.S. 



In June 1903, my father, the late Mr. Percy Lancaster, obtained a 

 few hybrids between the genera Cooperia and Zephyranthes , and I 

 cannot do better than quote his description of the three varieties pro- 

 duced. Unfortunately these plants have been lost si^ht of, and I 

 have been unable to find any trace of them. He used the name 

 Coo-zephyr to denote the hybrid origin, but the word Cooperanthes is 

 more euphonious, so I adopt it. 



rosea {Cooperia Drummondi ? x Zephyranthes carinata 

 —A strong-growing plant; flower scape 12 inches high; flower 

 larger than Z. rohusta, pale-green centre, pale pinky-purple above, 

 going off into deeper colour at the edges. 



Lancastrae (Cooperia Oberwetti $ x Zephyranthes robusta 

 ^ ). — Similar to the above but much more robust, with stout 

 flower-stalks; ovary brownish-green, centre of flower apple-green, 

 yellowish-white above, going off into pinkish lilac; flower larger 

 than above. 



Sunset {Cooperia Drummondi $ x Zephyranthes Andersonii 

 — This flower is a small-sized Cooperia; inside copper and 

 yellow; habit of Cooperia. 



After my father's death in 1904 I found these notes in his bulb-note 

 book, and as I could not discover the plants mentioned, commenced 

 hybridizing on my own account. In June 1907 I got two new varieties 

 from my first batch of hybrids. 



hella {Cooperia Drummondi ? x Zephyranthes robusta ^}.~-~ 

 A strong grower; flower-stalk like Z. robusta on emerging above 

 ground, dull green; flower-bud white, tinged pink at apex and 

 edges of petals; colour soft rose, outside of petals deeper pink. 

 The flower opens late in the afternoon and is faintly scented like 

 Cooperia. 



blanda {Cooperia Oberwetti $ x Zephyranthes Tretiae — 

 A small flower, white, flushed pinky-purple, base apple-green; 

 flower-stalk green, reddish base. The flower closes early the first 

 day, but opens a second day; seed capsule like Cooperia. 



Owing to force of circumstances I was separated from my work 

 for a few years, and on my return discovered that my seedlings and 

 hybrids had been lost. Nothing daunted I started my experiments 



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