1868. ] 
ERICA YENTRICOSA MAGNIFICA. 
^07 
indeed, it might be considered as the white-flowered representative, but that it flowers later. 
It is, perhaps, the II. stellatus praecox flore albo of Parkinson. 
2. Scilla sibihica, Andr. ( Bot. Rep. t. 365 (1804); Van Houtte, FI. des Serres, xvi. tab. 
1677. S. amoena, Redoute Lil. tab. 130).—Bulb roundish, the size of a chestnut, with a dark 
rind; leaves four or more, erect or somewhat spreading, flat, strap-shaped, slightly thickened at 
the point; scapes one or two, flattened, striated, scarcely so long as the leaves; flowers 2—4 or 
even 6, rarely solitary, on short stalks, horizontal or nodding, bell-shaped, ultimately spread¬ 
ing widely, of a pale clear blue colour, rather more intense along the central nerves of each 
segment. This beautiful species is sometimes seen in gardens and catalogues under the names 
of praecox and amoeBa. It flowers a little later than bifolia, but before S. amoena, and is one 
of the most lovely of all spring flowers, admirably adapted for spring beds. The head-quarters 
of the species would appear to be in Persia, Asia Minor, &c. Varieties with larger flowers 
than ordinary, and others with solitary blossoms are known. 
Scilla sibirica var. amamula (S. amoenula, Bot. Mag. t. 2408).—To this form we refer 
some plants which are smaller than S. sibirica, with more ovate bulbs, and paler flowers. 
3. Scilla amcena, Linn. (Redoute, Lil. t. 298; Bot. Mag. t. 341).—Bulb ovoid or roundish; 
leaves numerous, spreading, strap-shaped, acute, tO—12 inches long, ^ inch wide; scape 
erect, shorter than the leaves, compressed, two-edged, striated, purplish above ; flowers 3—6, 
dark indigo blue, in a loose two-sided cluster, horizontal when expanded; pedicels erect, 
curved at the apex, bluish, I to f inch long, springing from the axil of a very minute whitish 
bract; perianth 6-parted, nearly 1 inch across when expanded; segments spreading horizon¬ 
tally or reflexed, lanceolate acute slightly concave at the apex; filaments dilated and whitish 
at the base, blue above ; anthers blue ; ovary pale yellow, oblong ; style blue.—A native of 
Central Europe, the Tyrol, &c., and an old inhabitant of our gardens. Its flowers are not so 
nodding as those of the preceding, they are also flatter, not so bell-shaped, and of a darker 
blue, while the ovary, as Parkinson’s sharp eyes detected, is of a yellowish green colour, thus 
giving to the flowers the appearance of a yellow centre or “eye.” It flowers in the south 
of England in April, following close upon sibirica. 
The species above mentioned have all this character in common, that 
the bracts at the base of the pedicels are very minute, whereas in S. verna, 
S. campanulata, S. italica, and the later-flowering kinds, the bracts are often 
as long as the pedicels themselves. 
ERICA YENTRICOSA MAGiMFICA. 
’HE above-named Heath, when well grown and bloomed, is one of the 
handsomest of the ventricosa section. I have frequently been asked 
the reason of my plants of it producing such highly-coloured flowers. 
As soon as the flower buds can be seen bursting through the calyx, 
the plant should be placed out-doors, and well exposed to the sun and 
air by day; if the nights are likely to be frosty it must be protected, 
but on mild nights it should be thoroughly exposed to dew and air. This 
will give the flowers that brilliant deep rose colour so much admired by 
visitors at exhibitions. 
The Heaths of the ventricosa section are of easy culture if potted in good 
peat, with a sufficient quantity of sharp sand, and provided with efficient 
drainage, to cause the water to pass freely through the ball. They must be 
potted firmly, and well attended with water, so that the plants do not suffer 
from becoming dry at the root, for this will soon prove fatal to them. They 
should be well exposed in the open air as soon as the blooming season is 
over, and while making their growth, for much firmer and shorter-jointed 
wood is thus obtained than when they are grown in houses or pits, and they 
