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Albuca (From albicans or albus white)

(from albicans, or albus, white; the colour of the earlier species). ORD. Liliaceae. A rather extensive genus of Cape of Good Hope bulbs, requiring ordinary greenhouse culture. Closely allied to Ornithogalum. Perianth six-cleft, three outer segments spreading; three inner ones closed over the stamens. They, however, succeed admirably when grown in a warm sunny position out of doors, if covered with a hand glass, or litter, during winter. A light loamy soil, with leaf mould and sand, suits them well. Propagated by offsets from the old bulb, or seeds. There are but few species worthy of cultivation. A. angolensis (Angolan). fl. yellowish, large, in cylindrical racemes 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. l. linear-lorate, sub-erect, fleshy, pale green, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long. h. 3ft. Angola.

A. aurea (yellow).* fl. pale yellow, upright; peduncle very long, erect, spreading. June. l. linear-lanceolate, flat. h. 2ft. 1818. A. fastigiata (peaked).* fl. white; peduncle very long, spreading. May. l. linear, flattish, longer than the scape. h. 1 1/2ft. 1774. A. flaccida (weak). fl. pale yellow, with a green keel drooping, six to eight in a loose raceme; peduncles spreading at right angles. July. l. lanceolate-linear, obliquely bent. h. 2ft. 1791.

A. Nelsoni (Nelson's).* fl., perianth, 1 1/2in. long, ascending, white, with a dull red stripe down the back of each segment; scape stout, 4ft. to 5ft. high. Summer. l. bright green, very concave at the basal part, nearly flat in the upper part, 3ft. to 3 1/2ft. long, 1 1/4in. to 2 1/4in. broad, at about one-third the way up, whence they are gradually narrowed to an acute point. Natal, 1880. This very handsome species is the best of the genus.