Lapageria
(named after Josephine Lapagerie, afterwards Empress of the French, who an ardent botanist). SYNS. Capia, Phaenocodon. ORD. Liliaceae. A monotypic genus, the species being a tall, hardy or nearly hardy, climbing shrub. Lapagerias rank amongst the most beautiful greenhouse climbing plants in existence, and are suited equally well for houses of large or small dimensions. They are specially adapted for training over corridors, as here the pendent, waxy flowers are seen to the best advantage. Plants of a good form of the typical species, and others of the chastely pure white variety, have a fine effect, when in flower, if planted alternately, and trained to a roof. Lapagerias succeed on walls and trellises outside, in the warmest parts of the country, and are not injured by a little frost. They may be propagated from seeds, sown, soon after being gathered, in a sandy-peat soil, and kept in a moderate heat. By crossing white and red flowers for raising seed, varieties with flowers intermediate in colour are generally obtained. The most usual mode of propagation is by layers; strong, firm shoots, when layered and covered with soil, producing fine young plants. Where Lapagerias are raised in quantity, beds of suitable soil are prepared, the parent plants placed in them, and the shoots pegged down. A moist medium temperature is maintained; and when young plants are sufficiently established, they are detached and potted.
Cultivation. Lapagerias may be grown in pots, but they succeed much better when planted out in a prepared bed, and their growths trained on a wire trellis. The appearance of a plant in flower, when trained on a wall, is shown in Fig. 375. Important requisites for success in their culture are: thorough drainage, and a start with strong, healthy plants. Weak plants are seldom satisfactory, nor do they become so, in many instances, by planting out. The soil best suited is three parts good fibry peat to one of loam, and plenty of sharp sand or charcoal should be intermixed. The roots may be inclosed, where space is limited, by slates or a narrow wall, allowing a space of about a square yard inside; otherwise, the crowns spread by their underground stems, and throw up new shoots a considerable distance from where they were originally intended to do so. Young shoots are a special prey for slugs; consequently, the latter should be rigidly excluded, by a band of cotton wool, broken glass, or some other impassable barrier, until the growths are solidified. A cool temperature, and shade in summer, are best suited for the Lapageria, such as a position in a greenhouse or structure devoted to cool flowering subjects. Plenty of water may be given while the plants are growing, and frequent heavy syringings, until the flowers begin opening, are advantageous. Healthy plants, thus treated, flower profusely from the latter part of summer until very late in the autumn.
Insects. The young shoots of the Lapageria invariably become infested with Green Fly in spring. Fumigating lightly, on two successive evenings, is the best remedy, and one that should be immediately applied, or the growths will be crippled. Mealy Bug, Scale, and Thrips, also infest the plants, and must be kept down by syringing and sponging the firm leaves and stems with a rather strong solution of soft soap.
L. rosea (rosy).* fl. rich rosy-crimson, large, pendulous, in the axils of the upper leaves, or at the apices of the branches, solitary or few, produced in great abundance, and remaining in full beauty for several months. l. alternate, lanceolate-ovate or subcordate, acuminate, coriaceous, three to five-nerved, and reticulately veined. Chili, 1847. (B. M. 4447.) The flowers of this beautiful species vary, in size and substance, on different plants, under cultivation, some being very large and superior in every way to others. Obtaining a good "variety" is an important matter.
L. r. alba (white).* A very beautiful form, with spotless white flowers, thus constituting an admirable contrast to the typical species. Chili, 1854. (B. M. 4892.) L. r. superba (superb).* Described as a magnificent variety, producing fine large flowers of an exceedingly rich and brilliant crimson colour.