Hippeastrum
(from hippeus, a knight, and astron, a star; referring to the shape of H. equestre). Equestrian Star. ORD. Amaryllideae. A genus of upwards of fifty species of tunicated bulbous plants, natives of tropical and extra-tropical South America. Perianth funnel-shaped, more or less declinate; scape fistulose, two or many-flowered. In most catalogues, the plants described below are classed under Amaryllis. Few subjects are more gorgeous and attractive, in winter and spring, than several of the species of Hippeastrum, and the numerous beautiful hybrids that have been obtained therefrom by the skill and persevering labours of the hybridist. Some of the flowers are of the richest deep crimson and blood-red; others are nearly white, or are striped, mottled, and blended, in a most effective manner, with a combination of colours. Distinct species and hybrids have been crossed and intercrossed, until breadth of petal, size, substance, and perfect form of flowers, have been attained far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the hybridisers themselves. When once established, and of sufficient size, the flowering of the bulbs annually is almost certain; they do not require much space, and their general culture is easy. Propagation is readily effected by seeds for raising new varieties, and this method is also largely practised for producing bulbs to flower for ordinary decoration. Named species or varieties are perpetuated by offsets, which spring up from the base of established bulbs.
Seeds should be sown, as soon as ripe, in well-drained pots or pans of sandy loam, slightly covered, and placed in a temperature of about 65deg. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, pot off into very small pots, taking care not to insert too deeply, and afterwards plunge in bottom heat. If kept in a moist atmosphere, with a temperature ranging from 60deg. to 70deg., the young plants make rapid progress.
Offsets. For increasing by offsets, it is necessary to take the old bulbs from the pots, and carefully separate with the least possible injury to the roots. The latter become much interlaced, and do not like disturbance; consequently, it should not be resorted to more than is requisite. It is best to leave them until several offsets are formed, as the latter increase in size faster when attached to the parent plant, and the necessity of frequently disturbing the roots is avoided. The operation should be performed when the plants are at rest. Offsets should be placed singly in pots, but must on no account be overpotted, as they do not succeed in a quantity of soil, which is liable to become soured before being penetrated with roots. Keep the bulb about two-thirds above the level of the soil, dispose the roots evenly, and afterwards plunge in bottom heat, in a position exposed to light. Cultivation. Hippeastrums are more or less evergreen, and, although they require a season of rest, water should never be entirely withheld. The growing season is from early spring, after flowering is over, until about September, when the plants should be kept cool and allowed to rest until February. They may then be placed in a minimum temperature of about 60deg., and more water and syringings applied. If the bulbs are large enough, and have been well matured, the flower scapes will soon appear, usually a little in advance of the leaves. Young bulbs should be repotted, if they require it, just when starting, shaking out some of the old soil, well filling in the new amongst the roots, and making it quite firm with a hand rammer. Established flowering bulbs in 7in., or larger pots in the case of extra-sized specimens, should have a top-dressing each year when starting; this being generally sufficient for them, with the aid of manure water in the growing season. Rather heavy, loamy soil should be used, with the addition of some charcoal and crushed bones, and good drainage is very important. Hippeastrums require plenty of light and sunshine, except during the flowering period, when a light shading will tend to preserve the blossoms. In some large nurseries, special houses are now devoted to their accommodation. They are made with a span-roof, thus insuring plenty of light. The pots are plunged level in beds of tan or cocoanut fibre, and a magnificent display is made by the plants when flowering in a mass about the month of April. Plenty of air and water may be administered in summer, taking care to get them thoroughly ripened by autumn, when the pots, with their contents, may be stored and kept in a moderately dry, cool house until starting time the following year. H. Ackermanni (Ackermann's).* fl. crimson, handsome, very large, Stove. The parent of many of the large-flowering varieties. One of the best of these is pulcherrima, which has a deep crimson throat, very handsomely streaked with green.
H. Alberti (Albert's). fl. orange-red, yellowish towards the base of each petal, full double, about 6in. across. Cuba, 1867. A very handsome variety, probably merely a double form of H. equestre. stove. (I. H. 1866, 498.) H. ambiguum (ambiguous). fl., perianth tubulose; segments striated with red within; throat softly bearded. l. broad, strapshaped, full green. h. 2ft. Lima, 1836. A very handsome plant. (B. M. 3542.) H. aulicum (courtly).* fl. large, extremely handsome; petals unequal, obovate, sharply acuminated, patent, striated, within of a rich crimson, green at the base, and above the green is a dark blotch of red-purple; scape rounded, glabrous, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high. l. broadly strap-shaped, full green, not at all glaucous, closely striated; the apex rather obtuse. h. 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. Rio Janeiro. Greenhouse. SYN. Amaryllis aulica. (B. M. 2983, 3311.) H. breviflorum (short-flowered). fl. scentless; perianth white, striated; externally slightly tinged with yellow-green, and marked with a central broad, red streak; within, the same red streak is separated by a white line down the middle; scape rounded, glaucous. April. l., spathe of two lanceolate, membranous leaflets. h. 3ft. Buenos Ayres, 1836. Stove. (B. M. 3549.) H. equestre (equestrian).* Barbados Lily. fl. orange-green. West Indies, Guiana, Chili, &c., 1810. Stove. (B. M. 305.) There are several very handsome forms of this old species, including the following: fulgida, bright orange, margined white; major, large, bright orange, with green central star; flore-pleno, rich orange, quite double; and ignescens, bright light scarlet, with a white throat, which runs out in bars to the centre of the segments. (R. G. 1874, 150.) H. Johnsoni (Johnson's). fl. dull red, with a white stripe down each segment. One of the earliest hybrids; a specially hardy and robust grower, and a very abundant blossomer.
H. miniatum (scarlet). fl. red; umbel two to five-flowered; perianth campanulate; limb six-parted, thrice longer than the tube; scape very smooth, rather longer than the leaves. July. h. 1ft. Chili, 1832. Stove. (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 213, under name of Habranthus miniatus.) H. pardinum (leopard-spotted).* fl. upwards of 6in. in diameter, very spreading, with scarcely any tube; ground colour rich cream profusely dotted all over with crimson. Peru, 1866. A splendid greenhouse species. (B. M. 5645.) H. pratense (meadow). fl. brightest scarlet, sometimes feathered with yellow at the base; disposed in umbels on stems about 1ft. high. Chili, 1840. Nearly hardy. This is closely allied to H. fulgens. SYN. Amaryllis pratensis. (B. R. 1842,35, under name of Habranthus pratensis.) H. psittacinum (parrot-like). fl. green and scarlet. It is unique and beautiful, and has been fruitful in seedlings. (B. M. 3528.) H. pulverulentum (powdery). fl. red, four, ringent, with taper-pointed segments; scape about 2ft., purple at the bottom. April and May. l. deep green, conspicuously covered with a cinereous bloom, purple at their base. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1819. Stove. (B. M. 2273, under name of Amaryllis pulverulenta.) H. pyrrochroum (flame-coloured). fl. deep red, good size, four or five on a scape; throat shading to greenish-yellow. Para, 1863. Stove. (I.H. 1864, 420.) H. reticulatum (netted).* fl. a beautiful soft pink and white, about 3in. in diameter; veins darker, and giving the whole flower an interesting netted appearance; scape five or six-flowered. l. dark green, with a pure ivory-white midrib. Brazil, 1677. Stove. (B.M. 2113.) H. solandriflorum (Solandra-flowered). fl. drooping, very large; perianth tube very long, slender, pale green; limb somewhat spreading; segments oblong, rather acute, dingy sulphur, or cream-coloured, greenish at the middle of the back; scape terete. May. l. rather narrow, ligulate, keeled below, blunt at the apex, about 1ft. long. h. 2ft. Guiana, 1839. Stove. (B. M. 2573, 3771.) H. stylosum (long-styled). fl., limb pale fulvous-pink, veined and speckled with a deeper colour; anthers straw-coloured, striped with red; pollen bright yellow; style 1 1/4in. longer than corolla. l. like those of H.equestre, but more glossy, and purple at their base. h. 2ft. Brazil, 1821. Stove. (B.M. 2278.) H. sub-barbatum (slightly-bearded). "This beautiful plant, from Rio Janeiro, occupies an intermediate place between H. fulgidum and H. equestre major, to which last it approximates in the colour and form of the limb, the shape of the star, and the vestige of a beard, which is just distinguishable at the mouth of the tube." Stove. (B.M. 2475.) H. vittata (striped).* fl. clear white, with double red stripes on each perianth-segment. One of the most beautiful species; it has proved the most fruitful parent of many of the finest varieties. Greenhouse. (B. M. 129.)