[IXIOLIRION] montanum.—This beautiful plant (also known as I. Pallasi and I. tataricum) has long-necked ovoid bulbs about an inch in diameter, and tufts of grassy leaves. The charming lilac blossoms, as shown on [Plate 18], fig. 73, are borne in early summer in loose clusters on stems a foot or more high, and are very useful in a cut state. There is a good deal of variation in the colour, which has led to different names being given from time to time.
I. [Kolpakowskyanum] is a rare and little known species from Turkestan. It has much smaller bulbs than montanum, and the blue or whitish blossoms appear somewhat earlier in the year.
Ixiolirions may be grown successfully in the milder parts of the kingdom in warm sheltered spots in the flower-border or rock-garden. They should be planted about 3 inches deep in September or October in light sandy soil, and in cold localities should be protected with litter, &c., in winter.
[LAPEYROUSIA] (Anomatheca) cruenta.—A pretty South African plant, 6 to 12 inches high, with irregular roundish corms about 2 inches in diameter, and narrow sword-shaped leaves. The deep crimson or blood-red blossoms, with a still deeper-coloured blotch on each of the three inner segments, appear in late summer in loose clusters on slender stalks, and are very striking when seen in large masses. This species, although perhaps a trifle hardier, may be grown in the same way as the Ixias (see [p. 90]). The corms, however, being larger, should be planted about 6 inches deep, and new plants may be secured by detaching the offsets when the leaves have withered.
GLADIOLUS OPPOSITIFLORUS (87) LILIUM CANADENSE, VARS. (88-89)
[LEUCOJUM] (Snowflake).—Beautiful plants closely related to the Snowdrops, and somewhat resembling them in bulbs, and leaves, and flowers. The Spring Snowflake (L. vernum) is the first of the group to produce its drooping sweet-scented blossoms in March and April. They are usually borne singly on a slender stalk 6 to 12 inches high, and are white in colour with more or less conspicuous green tips to the petals, as shown in [Plate 12], fig. 47. The next best-known kind is the Summer Snowflake—the paradoxical name of L. æstivum. The pure white flowers, tipped with green, appear in May and June, sometimes as many as six being borne on a stem. L. pulchellum is closely related to this species, but has narrower leaves, and produces its smaller blossoms somewhat later. The pretty little plants, formerly known as [Acis], are now included with the Leucojums. They all have small white drooping blossoms on slender stems 6 to 12 inches high, those of hyemalis and trichophylla, appearing in April, while those of autumnalis appear in autumn.
The Snowflakes flourish in rich sandy soil, and appear to advantage in the rock-garden or in the grass, where they may be massed in the same way as Snowdrops, &c. Most of them are easily increased by offsets.
[LILIUM] (Lily).—Of all the hardy bulbous plants that may be grown in the open air in our climate, the Lilies may be looked upon as the most noble. Not only are many of them giants in stature among other hardy bulbs, but there is nothing to equal their individual blossoms in size, or their general gracefulness of appearance when borne collectively on the leafy stems.