Blandfordia
(named after George, Marquis of Blandford). ORD. Liliaceae. A very beautiful genus of greenhouse bulbous plants, natives of Australia. Flowers solitary, on recurved pedicels; perianth funnel-shaped, six-cleft; stamens six. Leaves linear, elongate, striate; radical ones dilated, and somewhat sheathing at the base; others shorter and more distant, appearing on the flower-stem. The best soil in which to grow them is loam and peat in equal proportions, with a little rough silver sand added. They should be repotted moderately firm in the autumn, allowing good drainage, and should then be placed under the greenhouse stage, or in any other position where they will be free from water drippings. Water must only be given when dry, until they commence to grow, when it may be gradually increased, and they may be introduced into a higher temperature, if necessary, there to remain till after flowering. When the foliage is ripened off, they may be stored away until the time for re-potting. Propagated by seeds and offsets, or by division of the old plants, which must be done when repotting.
B. aurea (golden).* fl. 1 1/2in. to 2in. long; scape bearing an umbellate cluster of three to five pure golden-yellow drooping bell-shaped flowers. Summer. l. narrow, linear, keeled or channelled, from the base of which the flower-scape arises. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 187C (B. M. 5809.) B. Cunninghamii (Cunningham's).* fl. rich coppery red, the upper part yellow; about 2in. long, bell-shaped, pendulous; from twelve to twenty, terminating in a stout scape 3ft. high. June. l. linear, slightly keeled at the back, about 1/3in. broad. This magnificent species should have a little charcoal mixed with the soil already mentioned. (B. M. 5734.) B. C. hybrida (hybrid). fl. red, margined with clear yellow, bell-shaped, in a dense drooping umbel.
B. flammea (fiery).* fl. dullish yellow, in dense umbel-like clusters; bracts ovate-lanceolate, stiff; perianth inversely conical. June. l. linear, bluntly keeled. h. 2ft. 1849.
B. f. elegans (elegant).* fl. crimson, tipped with yellow, large, funnel-shaped. Summer. l. long, linear-ensiform. This very handsome form is often taken for the type.
B. f. princeps (magnificent).* fl. rich orange-red externally, and bright yellow within, about 3in. long, tubular, borne on a scape about 1ft. high, slightly pendulous, and arranged near the summit. Summer. l. stiff, sub-erect, long, bright green, disposed in a distichous manner. This is a very splendid greenhouse plant, and should be in every collection. 1873. SYN. B. princeps. (B. M. 6209.) B. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. crimson, very large; bracts as long as the pedicels, the inner much the shortest. July. h. 2ft. 1812. (B. R. 924.) B. intermedia (intermediate). fl. yellow, pendulous, funnel-shaped, in sixteen to twenty-flowered racemes; bracts leaf-formed. September. l. channelled, acutely keeled, scabrous on the margins. h. 1 1/2ft. B. marginata (margined). fl. orange-red, conical, in long pendulous racemes; bracts narrow, foliaceous, about equalling in length the pedicels. July. l. stiff, sub-erect, with scabrous margins. h. 2ft. 1842. (B. R. 31, 18.) B. nobilis (noble).* fl. orange, with yellow margins, on long pedicels, drooping, disposed in a terminal raceme; bracts twice as short as the pedicels. July. l. very narrow. h. 2ft. 1803. (B. M. 2003.) B. princeps (magnificent). Synonymous with B. flammea princeps.