Cypella
(from kypellon, a goblet or cup; referring to the form of the flowers). SYN. Polia. ORD. Irideae. Very pretty little half-hardy bulbous plants, comparatively rare in cultivation. Perianth segments free; outer ones obovate, spreading; inner ones much narrower, erect, with recurved apices. Leaves plicate. Bulbs tunicated. They thrive in light soil, in a moderately sheltered position. If the roots are allowed to remain in the ground during winter, ample protection must be afforded; but it is generally more satisfactory to lift them, and plant again in spring. Propagated by offsets; or by seed, sown as soon as ripe, in a cool house.
C. caerulea. See Marica caerulea.
C. Herberti (Herbert's).* fl. yellow, varying from a light shade to a deep chrome tint, sparingly produced on a stalk; perianth segments ovate at the tip, somewhat contracted in the middle, and spotted or barred with a deeper colour at the base. July. l. lanceolate, tapering. h. 1ft. Buenos Ayres, 1823. (B. M. 2599, under the name of Tigridia IIerberti.) C. peruviana (Peruvian). fl. two to three in a solitary stalked terminal cluster, fugacious, and appearing in succession from the spathe; limb bright yellow, spotted at the base with red-brown; stigma bright yellow, bifid, petaloid. l., stem ones glabrous, linear, papyraceous, plicate; basal ones vanished by the time the plant flowers. Bulb ovoid, tunicate. Andes of Peru, 1874. A very handsome species. (B. M. 6213.) C. plumbea (leaden-coloured). fl. lead-coloured, tinged with yellow in the centre, solitary, widely expanded, very fugacious, lasting only a few hours; stigma consisting of short, two-lobed, transverse, tender lobes. Autumn. l. distant, sword-shaped, plicate. Stem slender, 3ft. or more high. Mexico, 1838. A very remarkable plant. (B. M. 3710, under the name of Phalocallis plumbea.)