FIG. 262. FLOWERS OF BOMAREA CARDERI.
BOMAREA (derivation of name doubtful). ORD. Amaryllidaceæ. A genus of handsome half-hardy twiners, closely allied to Alströmeria, from which it is chiefly distinguished by its twining habit and some difference in the capsule. They are of comparatively easy culture, thriving in a compost of peat, leaf mould, loam, and sand, with good drainage. Manure water should be given during the season of growth. Although they make fine pot plants, their full beauty is only developed when planted out in the conservatory or greenhouse border. Propagated by seeds, or by careful divisions of the underground stem. In making a division, it is necessary to observe that the part taken has some roots by which to live till new ones are formed. It should be potted at first, and may, when established, be planted out or shifted on. Seeds may be raised in a warm house without difficulty. They germinate in a few weeks; and when the young plants are 2in. or 3in. high, they should be placed separately in small pots, shifting them on as necessary, or planting them out. In favoured southern localities, several species have proved hardy, but they are much the best when grown in a greenhouse.
B. acutifolia Ehrenbergiana (Ehrenberg's acute-leaved). fl. undulate, outer segments deep orange, the inner ones paler and spotted. Spring. l. lanceolate acute, smooth. Mexico, 1878. (B. M. 6444).
B. Caldasiana (Caldas's).* fl. orange yellow, spotted crimson. l. ovate-lanceolate, acute. Peruvian Andes, 1863.
B. Carderi (Carder's).* fl. 2½in. long by 1⅛in. in breadth at the widest part, regularly bell-shaped, with six segments, the three outer rose-coloured, the three inner nearly equal in length, crenulate, and spotted with purplish-brown; inflorescence pendulous, and consisting of a large terminal umbellate cyme, surrounded at the base by a series of crowded leaves. l. oblong lanceolate, acuminate, about 7in. by 2¾in. Columbia, 1876. See Fig. 262, for which we are indebted to Mr. Bull.
B. chontalensis (Chontalese). fl. 1½in. long, sub-campanulate, obtusely trigonous; outer segments thick, fleshy, wavy, rose-red, with a few brown spots round the margin at the tip, very convex; inner segments a little shorter, pale yellow blotched with brown; umbels surrounded by a whorl of leaves, and composed of several peduncles, each bearing four to six nodding flowers. August. l. lanceolate or ovate oblong, acuminate. Nicaragua, 1871. (B. M. 5927).
B. conferta (dense-flowered).* A synonym of B. patococensis.
B. edulis (edible). fl., outer segments rose, green tipped; inner spotted with rose. St. Domingo, &c. One of the oldest species in cultivation. The tubers are said by Tussac to be eaten in St. Domingo, like those of the Jerusalem Artichoke. See Fig. 263.
B. frondea (leafy). fl. 2in. long, tubulate-campanulate; outer segments narrow, oblong, yellow; inner segments ½in. longer than the outer ones, canary yellow, spotted with red; cymes umbellate, many-flowered, about 8in. across, base leafy. l. lanceolate, acuminate. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 669.)
B. oligantha (few-flowered).* fl. regularly funnel-shaped, about 1in. long; outer segments slightly shorter than the inner, oblanceolate, under ¼in. abroad, obtuse, unspotted, reddish on the outside, yellow within; one or two to an umbel, on simple, flexuous, glabrous pedicels, about 1in. long. l. long, acute, about 2in. long, bright green on the upper surface, ciliated on the ribs beneath. Peru, 1877. See Fig. 264.
FIG. 263. FLOWERING BRANCH OF BOMAREA EDULIS.
B. patococensis (Patococha). fl. 2in. to 2½in. long, elongate-funnel-shaped; the three outer segments ovate lanceolate, about one-fourth shorter than the inner segments, both of a rich crimson colour; numerously borne in drooping, contracted tufts at the ends of the shoots; peduncles about 2in. to 2½in. long, intermixed at the base with broadly ovate-acute, leafy bracts. August and September. l. scattered, shortly stalked, broadly lanceolate, tail pointed. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 187.)
FIG. 264. FLOWERING BRANCH OF BOMAREA OLIGANTHA.
B. salsilla (Salsilla). fl. purple, about ½in. long, the two inner segments having a darker spot at the base, and all of them tinged with green towards the points; collected into a terminal umbel. June. l. few, lanceolate. South America, 1806. This has proved quite hardy under various conditions.
B. Shuttleworthii (Shuttleworth's).* fl., perianth about 2in. long, funnel-shaped or elongate bell-shaped; segments nearly equal, oblong acute, outer ones orange vermilion, slightly tinged with green and dotted with small dark spots at the tips; inner ones more acutely pointed, canary yellow, with a red midrib, and green with dark spots at the tips; cymes umbellate, pendulous. l. ovate lanceolate, 5in. to 6in. by 2in., glabrous. Bogota, 1881. (G. C. n. s. 17, p. 77.)
B. Williamsii (Williams's).* fl. rose-coloured, about 2in. long, elongate funnel shape; disposed in a compound umbellate cyme. l. lanceolate, very acute, and tapering to a very short twisted petiole. New Grenada, 1882.
BOMBACEÆ. A division of Sterculiaceæ.