ASPHODELUS RAMO'SUS. 
BRANCHED KINGSPEAR, 
Class. Order. 
HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ASPHODELEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
S. Europe. 
4 feet. 
May. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 251. 
In addition to our notice under No. 246, it may be 
added, that the term Asphodelus has, by some wri- 
ters, been thought to have come from the Greek 
as pis, a serpent; and deilos, fearful; because 
the venom of serpents was supposed to be destroyed 
by the Asphodelus. The Latin ramosus, branched, 
is not universally applicable to this species ; as some 
plants produce very few branches. 
By the French this species is called Baton royal, 
or King’s Rod, and it deserves this distinction of our 
Gallic neighbours. Its delicate flowers being borne 
on an upright stately stem, produce a beautiful effect 
in the mingled flower border ; and continue in gaiety 
a month at the least. 
It increases but slowly, and should not be trans- 
planted oftener than convenience really requires; 
for we have never seen it blossom in the first sea^fi^ 
subsequently to a removal. The roots may be occa- 
sionally divided, or it may be raised from seeds, 
which, being sown in the autumn, will vegetate in 
the spring, but the young plants will not produce 
flowers until three or four years old. It grows 
freely in any common soil. 
Hort. Kew. 2. v. 2, 266. 
