138 
HARDY PERENNIALS 
directions from a stout central crown from which 
also rises erect and strong to a height of six or 
seven and even sometimes up to ten feet, a stout 
but gracefully swaying flower stem. The upper 
half or more is clothed completely with flatly-opened 
blossoms poised upon slender foot-stalks so that 
the tips of the petals just meet those of the surround- 
ing blossoms. The colour is most delicate flesh 
pink, and in the centre of each flower a bunch of 
long stamens 
with bright pol- 
len-heads e n- 
hances the love- 
liness of the 
whole. Such is 
a spike of Erem- 
urus robustus. 
But there are 
others, some as 
tall and majes- 
t i c , some 
smaller, but not lacking in attractiveness. There 
are yellow species, and of late years some very 
remarkable and lovely hybrids have been introduced, 
adding immensely to the richness of a remarkable 
family of plants. 
The roots of an Eremurus are long fleshy thongs 
radiating from a central crown. Disturbance of 
these roots is fraught with danger, for they are 
brittle and easily broken. The best means of 
The Fleshy, Tuberous Root of Eremurus. 
Note the broken tuber at A . This will probably rot. 
