LIMUM CHALCEDON^ICUM. 
SCARLET MARTAGON. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
LILIACEiE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
Levant 
2j feet. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 292. 
Lei OS, signifying well polished, is supposed to have 
been the original word on which the Greeks founded 
their appellation leirion, and hence our Lilium; a 
term used by us, as its original was, formerly, by the 
Greeks, to designate a tribe of magnificent plants; 
but it is probable that their name took a much wider 
range over the produce of the east, than, in these days 
of scientific acumen, is permitted to our Lilium. 
Chalcedonicum, from Chalcedon, an Asiatic city. 
This old favourite was known in our gardens be- 
fore the days of Gerard, and as he calls it the Red 
Lily of Constantinople, it may be presumed that it 
was brought thence to England. In all ages man has 
sought for natural objects of beauty, and it may be 
questioned whether, as far as circumstances would 
admit, equal zeal in collecting plants, did not exist 
three centuries ago, as at the present day. 
It is certain that several beautiful varieties of Lilies 
were then possessed, which must have originated 
from attentive propagation, and which have long since 
been lost. 
It is increased by offsets of the bulbs, which should 
be removed whilst vegetation is suspended. 
Hort. Kew. 2, t 2. 242. 
Class. 
HEXAN11RIA. 
