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Lachenalia (Named after W de Lachenal)
(named after W. de Lachenal, 1736-1800, Professor of Botany at Basel). ORD. Liliaceae. A rather large genus (about thirty species) of greenhouse bulbous plants, natives of South Africa. Flowers sessile, spicate, or in pedicellate racemes, erect, spreading, or pendulous; perianth tubular or almost campanulate; scape simple, leafless. Radical leaves two (or, in a few species, three to five), rather thick, oblong, lorate, linear, or sub-terete, often spotted or pustulate. Bulbs tunicated. Lachenalias are among the most distinct and beautiful of dwarf bulbous plants for greenhouse decoration. Some of the species are very rare; but, fortunately, one of the best, tricolor, is plentiful, and is that most commonly seen. L. aurea (a variety of L. tricolor) and L. Nelsoni are also extra fine--especially the latter--and worthy of the most extensive cultivation so soon as the stock, which is now somewhat limited, admits. The flowering season, with most species, is spring and early summer; that of a few of the rarer kinds being, however, dispersed throughout the year. Propagation is effected by the increase of bulbs round those of the previous year, which also remain good. L. tricolor increases very rapidly, and all of its bulbs, except the smallest, flower the following season. Cultivation. About the beginning of August is the best time for the annual repotting. The whole stock of any species to be grown should be taken out of the dry soil in which the bulbs are usually kept while at rest, and placed together in order that the large and smaller sizes may be selected, and grown separately, to produce spikes uniform in strength in each pot. Efficient drainage must be provided, and the compost here recommended is two parts loam to one of leaf soil and dried cow manure; some sharp river sand or road grit being also added, to insure the free passage of water. The bulbs should be placed in the pots or pans in which they are intended to flower, as no further repotting will then be necessary. Pans from 9in. to 12in. in diameter are well adapted for Lachenalias, where they are procurable, and there is a sufficient stock to fill them. Pots 5in. in diameter are those best suited, and about six bulbs should be placed in each. Select the strongest for the pans, and cover, in either case, with 1/2in. of soil. Place them afterwards on a moist bed of ashes, in a cool, shallow pit or frame, where frost is merely excluded in winter. A good watering may be given at first, to settle the soil; but scarcely any more will be needed until growth commences. Air and all possible light must be admitted throughout the winter, to induce a sturdy growth, and extra room should be allowed as the plants require it. It is advisable to give air to Lachenalias on all favourable occasions in winter, as they soon become drawn in a close or warm atmosphere. Cold draughts disfigure the foliage, particularly in February and March, causing a stunted growth; consequently, in airing, special care must be taken. A little artificial manure may be applied with advantage so soon as the flower-spikes can be seen. This is preferable to the use of manure water, as the latter can scarcely be kept off the leaves, or from-lodging in their axils, to the detriment and injury of the flowers. Forcing is sometimes recommended, but it should not be practised unless a quantity of plants are at hand to keep a succession; all Lachenalias being very much sturdier and better when kept altogether in a cool place, away from the drying influences of fire heat. When in flower, they present a much finer appearance in a greenhouse, if arranged in masses, than when isolated as single pots or pans of plants. Each of the bulbs, if strong, will produce from one to four flower-spikes, and these keep in excellent condition, in a cool house, for nearly two months. When flowering is over, the plants should be placed in the full sun, to insure a thorough ripening; and when the leaves die away, the bulbs may be stored, and kept quite dry until starting time returns. Provided the following primary and important points are followed, the successful culture of Lachenalias becomes an easy matter: Prepare a rich, open soil; apply but little water in winter, until growth is somewhat advanced, but give plenty afterwards; admit all possible light and air, and, at the same time, avoid draughts and the use of fire heat, except that necessary for excluding frost and dispelling damp.
L. anguinea (serpent). fl. whitish, tubular-campanulate; racemes about twenty-flowered; scape spotted. April. l. always solitary, lanceolate, fleshy-herbaceous, 6in. to 7in. long, 1in. broad, spotted. h. 6in. 1825. (L. & P. F. G. ii. 179.) L. angustifolia (narrow-leaved). A synonym of L. contaminata. L. aurea (golden). A synonym of L. tricolor lutea.
L. bifolia (two-leaved). A synonym of L. isopetala.
L. contaminata (contaminated). fl. white, often more or less tinged with red, densely sub-spicate, campanulate. March. l. six to ten, semi-terete, 3in. to 8in. long, often spotted, channelled. h. 2in. to 6in. 1774. (B. M. 1401.) SYN. L. angustifolia (B. M. 735).
L. fistulosa (fistular). fl. fragrant; calyx white, tinged with skyblue; sepals brown at tip; petals white, edged with purple; spike loose, 2in. long; scape as long as the leaves. l. two, lanceolate, fleshy, unguiculate, 4in. long, 3in. broad. 1884.
L. fragrans (sweet-scented).* fl. reddish, very fragrant; racemes about twenty-flowered. May. l. two, oblong-ovate, green. h. 6in. 1798. (A. B. R. 302.) L. glaucina (milky-green). fl. white, more or less tinged with yellow or red, sub-spicate. May. l. two, rarely three, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate; margins cartilaginous, often spotted. h. 3in. to 6in. 1795. (B. M. 3552.) SYN. L. sessilifolia (A. B. R. 460).
L. isopetala (equal-petaled). fl. white, or more or less tinged with red. May. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, lorate-lanceolate, acute, 6in. to 9in. long. h. 4in. to 8in. 1804. SYNS. L. bifolia (B. M. 1611), L. rosea (A. B. R. 296.) L. lilacina (lilac).* fl. about twenty in an oblong spike; calyx bright lilac, blue at base; petals same colour, widely spreading; sepals ovate-oblong; scape 4in. to 5in. long, greenish-red, mottled with red-brown. l. two, lanceolate, falcate, 4in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad. 1884.
L. lucida (shining). fl. white, tinged with yellow or red, sweet-scented; racemes ten to fifteen-flowered. April. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate, 5in. to 6in. long, 1in. broad, smooth. h. 4in. to 6in. 1798. (B. M. 1372.) SYN. L. pallida (B. R. 287).
L. mutabilis (changeable). A synonym of L. orchioides. L. Nelsoni (Nelson's).* This is a very handsome hybrid, having golden-yellow flowers, numerously disposed in long racemes. 1881. (F. M. n. s. 452.) L. nervosa (nerve-leaved). fl. whitish, tinged with green and red, tubular-campanulate; racemes twenty to thirty-flowered. June. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, ovate-oblong, spreading, abundantly nerved, smooth, or rarely slightly blistered. h. 3in. to 6in. 1810. (B. M. 1497.) L. odoratissima (very sweet-scented). fl. in a rather dense raceme; sepals white, with a green tip; petals very spreading at the tips; scape shorter than the leaves. l. two, lanceolate, falcate, fleshy, blistered over the face, 6in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad. 1884.
L. orchioides (Orchis-like). fl. whitish or yellowish, or more or less tinged with red or blue, sub-spicate, fragrant, closely set on a spotted scape 9in. long. April and May. l. two, or rarely three, lanceolate, fleshy-herbaceous, dark green, often spotted, with cartilaginous margins; scape 3in. to 9in. high, often spotted. 1752. This species exhibits considerable variation in the colouring of its flowers. (B. M. 854, 1269; Ref. B. 171.) SYNS. L. mutabilis (S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 129; L. B. C. 1076), L. pulchella. L. pallida (pale). fl. whitish, or more or less tinged with red, sub-spicate. May. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, with cartilaginous margins. h. 6in. to 9in. 1782. This is scarcely more than a large variety of L. glaucina. (B. R. 1350, 1945; Ref. B. 170.) L. pallida (pale). A synonym of L. lucida.
L. pendula (drooping).* fl. of a deep purple, red, and yellow colour, about 1in. long, closely and gracefully set on the stout and spotted scape. April. l. erect, lorate-lanceolate, dark green, sometimes slightly spotted. h. 4in. to 9in. 1789. A strong-growing and very handsome species; probably the largest and showiest of the whole genus. (A. B. R. 41; B. M. 590.) L. pulchella (pretty). A synonym of L. orchioides.
L. purpureo-caerulea (purplish-blue).* fl. purplish-blue, campanulate; racemes thirty to forty-flowered. April. l. two, rarely three, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate, blistered, 6in. to 8in. long, 1/2. broad. h. 6in. to 9in. 1789. (A. B. R. 251; B. M. 745.) L. pustulata (blistered). fl. whitish, sub-spicate; scape nearly equalling the leaves. February. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate, 6in. to 9in. long, blistered. h. 1ft. 1799. (A. B. R. 350; B. M. 817.) L. quadricolor (four-coloured). A synonym of L. tricolor. L. q. lutea (yellow). A synonym of L. tricolor lutea. L. racemosa (raceme-flowered). fl. whitish, slightly tinged with red; racemes twelve to twenty-flowered; scape slightly spotted. May. l. two, rarely three, fleshy-herbaceous, lanceolate, thickly blistered. h. 3in. to 4in. 1811. (B. M. 1517.) L. rosea (rosy). A synonym of L. isopetala.
L. rubida (reddish). fl. ruby-red, tube-shaped, on a thickly-spotted scape 6in. long. September. l. lanceolate, in twos, slightly spotted. h. 9in. 1803. (B. M. 993.) This species has two varieties, tigrina and punctata, in which the flowers are of a pale ground-colour, thickly spotted with deep red. L. serotina (late-flowering). A synonym of Dipcadi serotina. L. sessilifolia (sessile-leaved). A synonym of L. glaucina. L. tricolor (three-coloured).* fl. bright green, red, and yellow, about 1in. long, disposed all along the upper part of the erect scape. Spring. l. in twos, lorate-lanceolate, spreading, dark green, spotted with dull purple. h. 1ft. 1774. (B. M. 82.) SYN. L. quadricolor (A. B. R. 148). L. t. lutea (yellow).* This is a form with the perianth altogether yellow. SYNS. L. quadricolor lutea (B. M. 1704), L. aurea.
L. unifolia (one-leaved). fl. white, in many-flowered racemes; pedicels two to three lines long. March. l. always solitary, fleshy-herbaceous, linear, 6in. to 12in. long, with blood-coloured blotches or spots. h. 4in. to 15in. 1795. (B. M. 766.) L. violacea (violet). fl. white, tinged with violet and green, tubular-campanulate. March. l. two, fleshy-herbaceous, lorate, 8in. to 9in. long, 1 1/2in. broad, smooth, spotted. h. over 1ft. 1795. (L. B. C. 1129, under name of L. bicolor.)