25 PLORA AND SYLVA 
N. Bowdeni — A very fine new kind 
Species, from the Cape, the flowers of which 
are well shown in our plate. It 
bloomed last year with Mr. Gumbleton of 
Belgrove, Queenstown, under the name A^. ex- 
cellens tardijiora ; also at Kew, and with Messrs. 
Veitch of Exeter, who showed it at the Royal 
Horticultural Society on 22nd October 1904, 
when it gained an award of merit. It was sent 
from Cape Colony to Mrs. Cornish-Bowden 
of Newton-Abbot by her son, a government 
surveyor in South Africa, who came across it 
in an out-of-the-way district near King 
William's Town. The native boys had much 
difficulty in getting the roots, which grow only 
in the most inaccessible spots among the moun- 
tains. The plants flowered in this country 
were in full beauty at the end of October of 
last year, and have rose-pink flowers with a 
darker line at the centre of each segment, and 
bright green leaves. As regards cultivation, 
Nerine Bowdeni belongs to the second or Jlexu- 
osa group. 
Group I. 
A^. curvifolia. — This kind and its forms are 
the finest of the genus, and in some gardens it 
is grown in quantity for its brilliant scarlet 
flowers. This plant (and those of its sec- 
tion) needs a thoroughly dry time of rest. 
Syn. N. Fothergilli. Plants vary in size of 
flower, the best being known as N. Fothergilli 
major. 
N. corusca and variety major. — Flowers of 
brilliant scarlet, their segments finely waved. 
N, Moorei. — Leaves bright green, much 
curved ; flowers scarlet. 
N. Plantii. — Flower spikes taller than in the 
other kinds. Flowers rosy-crimson. 
N. rosea. — A form of N. sarniensis, with 
reddish-rose flowers. 
N. Sarniensis. — The best-known species, in 
cultivation for over two hundred years, and 
so long grown in the Channel Islands as to have 
taken the name of " Guernsey Lily." Flowers 
bright rose. 
N. venusta. — The smallest of its section ; 
flowers scarlet. 
These form a distinct group, and (botanic- 
ally) may be related to either N. sarniensis or 
N. curvifolia^ but to keep them separate is best 
for garden purposes. 
Group II. 
\ N. angustifolia. — Inflorescence of 2 feet or 
j more in height, and pubescent even to the 
; ovaries. Flowers pale pink with a darker 
! line in the segments. Orange River Colony. 
N. appendiculata. — A slender species intro- 
duced by me from Natal. Narrow, bright- 
green leaves a foot long, and flowers of red- 
, dish-pink. 
N.Jilifolia. — A small species with slender 
green leaves and umbels of red flowers, 
j N.Jiexuosa. — A strong grower, having broad 
I bright-green leaves, and flower-spikes often 2 
to 3 feethigh,bearingwhiteorpalepinkflowers 
with crisped edges. 
N.Jiexuosa alba. — Flowers of pure white. 
N. humilis. — A very pretty and variable 
species, with crisped-edged flowers in various 
shades of rose colour. 
N. pancratioides. — Akin to A^. appendiculata, 
with white or pale pink flowers showing a 
rudimentary corona at the base of the seg- 
ments. Imported by me from Natal. 
A^. pudica. — An elegant little species bearing 
white or pink flowers, marked with a narrow 
' rosy line in each segment. 
N.pulchella. — h}X\^^\.o N.Jiexuosa. Leaves 
dark green and of firm texture ; flowers larger 
than in N.Jiexuosa, pale pink with a rose keel. 
The variety N. Sandersoni is a robust form of 
this with less wavy segments to the flowers. 
Transvaal. 
N. undulata. — One of the smallest species, 
often seen in gardens as A^. crispa. Flowers 
whitish or pale pink. The variety major has 
larger and darker flowers. 
Two species, lucida and marginata I regard 
as doubtful, though received by many botanists. 
N. lucida (figured in Bot. Reg. t. 497 as Amaryl- 
; lis laticoma) I have never seen except in dried 
j form. A^. marginata, which I lately received 
I from its recorded habitat with a faded inflor- 
I escence still on the bulb, is, I believe, really 
I a Brunsvigia. 
Nerines cross and bear seed abun- 
j Hybrids. dantly, the seeds being fleshy and 
i bulb-like. They germinate freely, 
making bulbs more quickly if sown on the top 
I of the soil than when covered. Many years 
I ago Dean Herbert raised several hybrid Ne- 
1 rines, but little was known of garden hybrids 
