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Hedychium (From hedys sweet and chion)

(from hedys, sweet, and chion, snow; referring to the sweet-scented snow-white flowers of H. coronarium, which was the first species introduced). Indian Garland Flower. ORD. Scitamineae. A genus of about twenty-five species of handsome stove herbaceous plants, all natives of tropical Asia. They have terminal spikes of white, scarlet, or yellow flowers, and fine foliage. Some of the species, particularly H. Gardnerianum, thrive well planted out in a wide conservatory border, in a compost of good loam enriched with a little thoroughly decayed manure, and the whole rendered porous by the addition of some sharp sand. Hedychiums are exceedingly ornamental Occasional supplies of liquid manure are beneficial in securing strength and vigour. These plants are also valuable for sub-tropical gardening, and for this purpose may be treated similar to Canna (which see). For pot culture, they may be placed in large pots or tubs, in spring, using rich soil, and applying plenty of water and liquid manure when established. When flowering is over, the spikes may be cut down. In spring, when the plants are repotted, the rhizomes can be divided. The second season, the spent earth can be partly removed, and the plants repotted into pots or boxes only an inch or two larger. Where a heated tank is used for growing tropical water plants, place the bottom of the pots or tubs, containing the Hedychiums, in the water to a depth of 2in. or 3in.; where such a convenience does not exist, water the plants two or three times daily during the season of growth. Of those now in cultivation, H. Gardnerianum is by far the commoenst; and, with the exception of that species, and of H. flavum, the ones mentioned below are stove plants.

H. acuminatum (taper-pointed). fl. handsome, fragrant; spike loose, 9in. or more long; two outer segments of corolla limb linear, patent; of the three inner, two are pale yellow, the third pure white; lamina deeply cut into two segments; filaments red. October. l. broadly lanceolate, with an almost filiform point, glabrous above, slightly silky beneath. h. 3ft. to 5ft. East Indies, 1820. (B.M. 2969.) H. angustifolium (narrow-leaved).* fl. dull red, small, generally four to a fascicle, expanding in succession; corolla tube slender, cylindric, about 1in. long; calyx same length, superior, cylindric; spikes terminal, erect, rigid, open, 6in. to 18in. long, smooth. June. l. linear-lanceolate, 10in. to 14in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, bifarious, sessile on their smooth sheaths, pointed, smooth on both sides. Stems erect, 3ft. to 6ft. high. India, 1815. (B. M. 2078.) H. carneum (flesh-coloured). fl. flesh-coloured, scentless; bracts ciliated, one-flowered, convolute; calyx sub-tomentose. August. l. bifarious, over 1ft. long, very slender, acuminate. h. 3ft. to 4ft. East Indies, 1823. (B. M. 2637.) H. chrysoleucum (gold and white). fl. pure white, with a bright orange-coloured blotch on the lip, very fragrant; filaments long, very deep orange. August. h. 5ft. East Indies. (B. M. 4516.) H. coronarium (garland).* fl. snow-white, sweet-scented; lip nearly 2in. wide. May. h. 5ft. East Indies, 1791. (B. M. 708.) H. flavosum (yellow).* fl. yellow, numerous, fragrant; corolla tube slender; laciniae linear; lip erect, large, obcordate; spike terminal, solitary, erect, 6in. to 8in. long. July. l. lanceolate, very fine-pointed, pubescent and pale beneath; sheaths slightly pubescent. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Silhet, Bengal. (B. M. 2378, under name of H. flavum.) H. flavum (yellow).* fl. bright orange, large, fragrant. July. l. 12in. to 14in. long. h. 3ft. Nepaul, 1822. In many Cornish gardens, this handsome species has proved nearly hardy. (B. M. 2039.) H. Gardnerianum (Gardner's).* fl. lemon-coloured, large, fragrant. Summer. l. broadly lanceolate, stem-clasping, in two rows. h. 3ft. to 5ft. East Indies, 1819. This very fine species is nearly hardy in England, if provided with a slight winter protection. The crowns, may, however, be lifted and stored similar to those of the Dahlia or Canna. (B. R. 774.) H. gracile (slender). fl. white, with the filament red; calyx tubular, membranous; corolla tube 2/3in. to 3/4in. long; lobes three, filiform; staminodes linear, acute; lip linear-oblong, two-lobed; spike 5in. to 7in. long. September. l. 5in. to 9in. long, 2in. to 3in. broad, finely acuminate; base acute, narrowed into a petiole 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Sikkim-Himalaya and Khasia Mountains, 1820. (B. M. 6638.) H. spicatum (spike-flowered). fl. yellowish; corolla-tube extending 1in. beyond the sheath; lip two-lobed, emarginate. October. l., spathe erect, one-flowered, two-valved. h. 3ft. India, 1810. (B. M. 2300.)