CALOCHORTUS VENUSTUS. 
(beautiful CALOCHORTUS.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
LILIACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Plant bulbous. Leaves acuminate. Calyx three-leaved, narrow, and acuminate. 
Petals three, large, broad, and coloured. Ovarium, triangular, three-celled, and many-seeded. 
Specific Character — Stems from a foot and a half to two feet high, having from three to five stiff, narrow, 
green leaves, which roll up at the edges, and are very sharp pointed. Flowers very handsome, con- 
tinue open for several days. Calyx pale green, with a bright red blotch betwixt the petals. Petals 
pure white at the upper part, and somewhat yellowish towards the base which is hairy, and where the 
three petals form something of a cup. Towards the base of each petal is a deep crimson stain, some- 
what in the form of a wedge, terminated by bright yellow, above which is another deep stain bordered 
with yellow, and a little nearer the end of the petal is another red spot having within it a tinge of 
blue. 
This beautiful plant was sent by Mr. Douglas, from California, to the Horti- 
cultural Society, in the last part of whose transactions it is figured. See Vol. I., 
New Series, p. 412. 
It appears to be nearly, if not altogether, hardy, but we have hitherto only 
grown it in a pot, which stood in a very airy situation in the greenhouse. In this 
place it flowered beautifully in June last, when our drawing was taken. The bulbs 
will probably require taking up when the leaves are withered. 
The best sort of soil for it appears to be a sandy peat soil, mixed with a small 
portion of loam. 
It appears to produce plenty of seeds, by which, and offsets, it may be propa- 
gated. 
We do not doubt but it will do very well planted out in the open border, pro- 
vided the bulbs be always taken up when the leaves are dead, which happens in 
September. As they will commence growing again before the winter is over, 
it will be advisable to plant them in pots, and keep them in the greenhouse until 
the weather is sufficiently fine to turn them out into the borders again. 
