Ismene amancaes var sulfurea

Nat. ord. AMARYLLIDEÆ. R. Br. (Introduction to the Natural System of Botany, p. 259). ISMENE Herbert. Scapus solidus. Corona staminifera. Tubus cur- vatus, cylindricus. Filamenta brevia, tria in coronam deflexa, tria inferiora im- plexè conniventia. Semina carnosa, rotunda, viridia. - Plantæ Americanæ foliis autumno depereuntibus. Herbert in litt.

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I. Amancaes; var. hybrida sulphurea; (matre I. Amancaes, patre I. Calathina) foliis octo tripedalibus parte inferiore pedali cylindraceâ, apice minus ac in I. Amancaes attenuato; scapo tripedali, compresso; spathâ marcescente, germine viridi brevissimè pedunculato; tubo viridi circiter triunciali, coronâ 2½-unciali sulphureâ fasciis sex internis viridibus luteo marginatis, lobis duodecim-dentatis; limbi laciniis 2½-uncialibus canaliculatis: umbellâ sex- florâ, odore gravi, neque (uti in Calathinâ)fragrante, neque (ut in Amancaes) fœtido. - Herbert in litt.

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For the drawing, technical character, and following ac- count of this plant, we are indebted to our highly valued correspondent the Hon. and Rev. William Herbert. This very ornamental bulb was raised four years ago from a seed of Ismene Amancaes, which had been fertilized by the pollen of Ismene Calathina. It is interesting as con- firming the generic character of Ismene, from which no intermixture with the cognate genus Hymenocallis has been produced, though many attempts have been made; and also by the great change which has been wrought in it by the impression of the male species. The colour of the flower is intermediate, and the scent, though very powerful, is not delightfully fragrant as in Calathina, nor so disagreeable as that of Amancaes. The constitution is vigorous, like that of the former species, from which it inherits also a more

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* A classical name applied to this genus by Mr. Herbert. Ismene was a daughter of Œdipus.

robust stature and less attenuated leaves. The natural seed- lings of I. Amancaes make very slow progress. There is one twelve years old at Spofforth, which is not yet of flower- ing size; but those of I. Calathina advance rapidly. The flowers of the mule have a tube slenderer than that of Amancaes, and the cup terminating in twelve distinct lobes which are jagged at the margin: from the points where the filaments are inserted, six strong green lines, margined with yellow, mark the inside of the cup. Ismene Calathina thrives vigorously out of doors in a border of sand and peat mixed, and flowers in July and August, if the bulbs are planted out in April, and taken up when the leaves decay in November or October. The soil being loose and light, it is easy to avoid breaking their strong fleshy fibres, which should not be injured. The bulbs so taken up should be put all together in a large pot, or a small tub according to their number and size; and, some light soil being poured over them, they should be placed at the back of a green- house, or in any shed where they will be preserved from frost, and must have no water. I. Amancaes requires a much more sandy soil, and less moisture : if planted out of doors, a large pot full of soil should be taken out of the border where it is set, and the hole filled with pure white sand, and unless the summer is very wet it will succeed well. If kept in the greenhouse, it should be potted in very sandy compost, and be watered sparingly ; and should be left quite dry from the time the leaves decay till May. Peat and too much water have caused many cultivators to lose this plant, which is not difficult to preserve. The Horti- cultural Society have imported an Ismene, which, unless it be a new species, is at least a variety of Amancaes with very different habits, spawning abundantly, and the leaves not sheathing high, of a hardier constitution, and less averse to moisture. Its flower has not yet been seen. W. H.