Part 28 (2/2)

(One-sixth natural size.)]

It grows fully 8ft. high, in deep and rich soil, and is furnished with large, many-flowered bunches of blossom from the leaf axils nearly all its length, each flower stalk being 6in. to 9in. long. The flowers are of a lively rose colour, about twelve in a cl.u.s.ter; tendrils five-cut, long, and two-leaved. The leaves are in pairs, elliptical, many ribbed, glaucous, and very large, whence the specific name; the internodes of the whole plant are winged, wings membranaceous; stipules large, broader than the stems. The habit is rampant; it enjoys suns.h.i.+ne, but will do in partial shade.

_L. l. albus_ is a variety similar to the above in all its parts, but scarcely as large in the foliage, and the flowers are pure white, and produced a week or a fortnight later; for cutting purposes these are justly and highly esteemed.

Tall vases may be pleasingly dressed by the flowered stems, if cut about 3ft. long; these twined round or hanging down are very graceful, but they should not be used too freely--one, or two at most, on each large vase will be ample.

Both the above may be grown with good effect amongst other climbers, on a specially prepared trellis-work, ordinary pea-rods, or over defunct trees.

Propagated by seeds, or by division of very strong roots only. February is a good time for both methods.

Flowering period, June to August.

Leucojum aestivum.

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE; _Nat. Ord._ AMARYLLIDACEae.

As may be seen by the ill.u.s.tration (Fig. 58), this native bulbous plant is somewhat ungainly; blooming specimens are sometimes 2ft. high, and each one rarely produces more than three of its small flowers, but they are worth growing, because of their lasting properties, either cut or otherwise; the pretty snowdrop-shaped flowers are very effective when used in vases, their long stems rendering them more serviceable than they otherwise would be.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 58. LEUCOJUM aeSTIVUM.

(One-third natural size.)]

The white flower is without calyx, and has a corolla of six petals, each one being delicately tipped with pale green; they are produced on long thick stems, each flower having a somewhat lengthened pedicel, by which they are suspended bell-fas.h.i.+on. The foliage is of the common daffodil form, but longer; bulb small.

There are, it is said, two varieties of this species, which have generally become mixed; the other variety is said to be more dwarf and later in flowering; if this is correct, possibly these mixed varieties may have something to do with the long time which they are known to continue flowering.

Not only for the sake of preventing the tall growths from heading over should it be grown in broad ma.s.ses, but when so planted this flower is more effective. It will grow in any kind of soil, but it seems most at home amongst dwarf shrubs, where its flowers are always of a more delicate colour than when exposed. Propagated by division of the roots during autumn every third year.

Flowering period, May to July.

Leucojum Vernum.

SPRING SNOWFLAKE; _Nat. Ord._ AMARYLLIDACEae.

A hardy bulbous species from Germany. It is not necessary either to describe or praise this beautiful flower, beyond stating that in every way it closely resembles the snowdrop; it is larger, however, whence the appropriateness of its name, Snowflake, in relation to that of the snowdrop. It will thrive anywhere but in wet, sour situations; it most enjoys fine light soil and the partial shade of trees, where it rapidly increases by offsets of the bulbs; these may, with advantage, be divided every three or four years.

Flowering period, March and April.

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