LILIUM SPECIOSUM -SHEWY LILY 
Class VI. HEXANDRIA . Order L MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order, TULIPACE.dE. 
I 
Lilium Speciosum. Stem a scaly bulb, from which springs the part bearing the leaves and flowers. 
Leaves scattered, alternate, shortly petiolate, lanceolate, acute, about six inches long, green on both sur- 
faces but of a lighter hue beneath, which is almost shining. From the base to the apex of each leaf run 
several parallel veins or nerves, which are very prominent on the under surface, the central ones most con- 
spicuous, the lateral ones less so. Flowers axillary and terminal solitary. Perigone (corolla of Linnean 
writers) of six folioles, of which three are exterior, three placed more internal, of an exquisite rose-colour. 
Each foliole unguiculate at the base, but with the limb reflected, whitish towards the base, but near the 
central part, of a pink or red ground, marked with prominent points and round spots. Stamens six, fila- 
ments thick below, tapering towards the apex ; anthers versatile : pollen brownish yellow. Style one, 
somewhat club-shaped. Stigma yellow, 3-lobed. 
Popular and Geographical Notice. This species, perhaps one of the most gorgeous of that 
tribe which Linnaeus termed the patricians of the vegetable kingdom, is a native of Japan,, a country with the 
productions of which we are very imperfectly acquainted, owing to the jealousy of its people, which is as 
great as that of their Chinese neighbours. Siebold was, however, allowed to penetrate into the interior, 
and brought off the present plant among his other spoils. 
Introduction ; where grown; Culture. The first plants were sent by Siebold to Holland, and 
by propagation are now in the hands of the nurserymen of Ghent, from whom bulbs were purchased by the 
Messrs. Loddiges at Hackney, in 1836. It is not yet ascertained what degree of temperature this splendid 
Lily will bear, but it may be presumed that protection from frost will be all that is requisite. A light 
loamy soil, upon a dry bottom, is favourable to the growth of such plants. From various trials of bog 
earth, however well it may have been pulverized by frost, or the addition of sand, we believe it to be in- 
jurious to the growth of Lilies.* 
The accounts we have received of the gardens of antiquity are for the most part considered fabulous. 
The hanging gardens of Babylon have been represented as romantic in point of situation, and magnificent 
not only for their extent, but also for the natural difficulties which were surmounted in their construction. 
The useful had, however, but little part in their design; and of the less aspiring spots, which were made to 
minister to the wants of the people of that city by the production of esculent vegetables, it has not been 
thought necessary to say one word. 
We have abundant reason for believing that the Jews, during their existence as an independent nation, 
were accustomed to cultivate fruits in abundance, but no mention can be found of the particular herbs and 
plants which they without doubt produced for their daily consumption. 
Our knowledge of the mode of gardening practised in the Chinese empire has been obtained at periods 
of recent date ; yet, from what we know of the inveterate pertinacity wherewith its inhabitants adhere to the 
customs of their ancestors, we are warranted in believing that the practice of this art has been without any 
material alteration for many centuries. The learned Jesuits Du Halde and Le Comte, who resided as 
missionaries in China, speak in commendation of the manner in which the cultivation of culinary vege- 
tables is managed in that country, where indeed the practice of horticulture appears to have reached to 
considerable perfection, although the scientific principles upon which it should be founded are wholly un- 
known. 
It is said that the lower orders of people in some parts of China draw a chief part of their nourishment 
from the produce of their gardens, and that they are in possession of some garden esculents which are 
peculiar to themselves. We are indebted to China for several valuable additions to our flower-gardens, and 
among the rest for various species of the Camellia, Poeonia, and Rose; and it is reasonable to suppose that 
the same care would have been taken for the transmission of seeds of new descriptions of esculents had any 
such presented themselves. 
In an empire comprehending so great a variety of climate, the natural productions must doubtless be 
extremely varied, and the Chinese are said to be in the enjoyment of most of the fruits and vegetables that 
The Botanist. 
