Its leaves also resemble those of L. Giganteum, but the base leaves are not so numerous, and the lower ones are congregated into a whorl. The upper leaves are irregularly scattered. The lowest leaves are curiously marked with a deep mahogany hue, which is never present in those of L. Giganteum, and which helps to distinguish between the two plants. The leaves are even more cordate than are those of L. Giganteum, especially the lower ones which form a very tolerable image of the “artistic” heart.
The stem grows to about three or four feet high, and bears at its summit from two to six flowers somewhat like those of L. Giganteum, but smaller, poorer, and marked on the inside with brown rather than claret-colour. The flowers open wider than do those of L. Giganteum, and are incomparably less beautiful. This lily is a native of Japan and China.
It is decidedly a scarce lily, and is exceedingly difficult to flower. We have not succeeded in flowering it ourselves, but a solitary bulb that we possess sent up last summer a fair crop of its curious leaves.
This plant would look well in a mass grown in much the same way as L. Giganteum, but we have never tried it in the ground, and so cannot speak from experience in this particular.
Altogether it is so far inferior to L. Giganteum, more difficult to grow and much less effective that we do not recommend its culture to any but enthusiasts. It is not a hardy lily and requires some protection in winter. It begins to send up its leaves very early in spring, and these must be protected at this season from frosts, and later from the wind and sun.
Both L. Giganteum and L. Cordifolium can be grown in pots, but the great size of the former and comparative poorness of the latter render both unsuitable for this form of culture.
Eulirion—beautiful lily! What an appropriate name for the superb plants contained in this group! Beautiful lilies they are indeed, beautiful in shape, in colour and in scent! What flowers will you compare with the members of this group? None of the priceless orchids or choice stove plants are anything like so beautiful as these misunderstood and grossly neglected lilies!
Lilium Henryi.
First among the Eulirions stands L. Longiflorum and its many varieties. This together with L. Formosanum, L. Philippinense, L. Wallichianum and L. Neilgherrense form a group of plants having many characteristics in common, and all very different from the rest of the genus.