In Holland it appears to have been long since known; but was a stranger here, till introduced from the Cape, by Mr. Masson, in 1787. Ait. Kew.
In the course of a few years it becomes a shrub of considerable size, equalling a small furze bush, to which, in its habit, it bears a distant resemblance; and furze-leaved, in our humble opinion, would have been a more expressive name than heath-leaved, which Mr. Aiton has given it in accordance with Commelin's idea.
The purple of the flowers is brilliant in the extreme, and as those are plentifully produced almost the year through, it has very generally obtained a place in collections of greenhouse plants about London.
It is commonly increased by cuttings, but not easily.
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Scilla Amæna. Byzantine Squill.
Class and Order.
Hexandria Monogynia.
Generic Character.