Doryanthes
(from dory, a spear, and anthos, a flower; the flower-stem is from 12ft. to 20ft. high, like the handle of a spear, bearing flowers on the top). ORD. Amaryllideoe. A genus of extremely beautiful amaryllids, requiring greenhouse culture, similar to Dasylirion, Fourcroya, &c. They thrive best in a compost of loam and leaf soil, in equal parts. Propagated from suckers, which should be placed in small pots, and grown on, repotting into larger sizes as becomes necessary. A considerable size of plant has to be attained before flowers are produced.
D. excelsa (tall).* fl. very brilliant scarlet, each as large as the common white Lily, disposed in a globose head at the top of the bracteate stem, the base of which is surrounded by leaves. Summer. l. numerous, long, lanceolate. h. 8ft. to 16ft. New South Wales, 1800.
D. Palmeri (Palmer's).* fl. red, with the centre lighter, large, funnel-shaped; spike pyramidal, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high, and 10in. to 12in. broad, many-flowered, clothed with leafy bracts. l. in a dense tuft, broad-lanceolate, each about 6ft. long by 6in. in breadth, gracefully arching. h. 8ft. to 16ft. Queensland, 1874. This is a very handsome species. (B. M. 6665.)