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Nerine (Called after the water nymph)
(called after the water nymph of that name). SYN. Loxanthes. ORD. Amaryllideae. A genus comprising not more than ten distinct species of beautiful greenhouse or nearly hardy, bulbous plants, indigenous to South Africa. Flowers showy, in many-flowered umbels, erect or slightly declinate; perianth segments narrow, slightly erect at base, spreading or recurved; scape stout. Leaves loriform, sometimes rather broad, appearing with or after the flowers. When in flower, Nerines are amongst the most beautiful of greenhouse bulbous plants. They are propagated from offsets, and these should be grown on under the same treatment as established bulbs. Loam and leaf soil, with charcoal or sharp sand added, is a good compost to use, and efficient drainage must be provided. The periods for growing and resting must be annually allowed with these, as with most other South African bulbs. The Guernsey Lily (N. sarniensis) is a beautiful, well-known species, which may be purchased in August, when the flower scapes are just appearing. As the bulbs have for some time previously been kept quite dry, they should be very gradually subjected to watering. N. curvifolia is also an exceedingly beautiful species, and one of the most vigorous growers. Nerines do not require repotting very frequently, but an annual top-dressing of new soil is of material advantage when the flowering season begins. This is chiefly autumn and winter, but varies somewhat with different species, according to their habit of flowering before or after the leaves appear. During the season of growth, the plants succeed best in a frame on a dung bed, with a little bottom heat. When the leaves die, store the plants away in a cool place, and keep the soil quite dry, until signs of growth are again apparent.
N. curvifolia (curved-leaved).* fl. bright glittering scarlet, scentless, in a many-flowered convex umbel; perianth regular, with the segments slightly cohering at base. Blossoms at various seasons. l. glaucous, oblong-linear, or thong-shaped, depressed along the middle. 1788. (A. B. R. 163, under name of Amaryllis Fothergillia; B. M. 725, under name of A. curvifolia.) N. filifolia (thread-leaved). fl., perianth rose-red, 1in. long; umbel centripetal, eight to ten-flowered; pedicels densely glandular, pubescent; scape 1ft. long. October. l. six to ten from a bulb, slender, 6in. to 8in.long. (B. M. 6547.) N. flexuosa (zigzag).* fl. of a vivid crimson-scarlet, slightly tinged with orange, umbellate. l. lighter green, and less glaucous than in N. sarniensis corusca. h. 1ft. 1795. (B. R. 172, under name of Amaryllis flexuosa.) N. f. excellens (excelling).* fl. bright rosy-pink, with a carmine-crimson rib down the centre of each reflexed segment; umbels many-flowered. 1883. A beautiful variety, of very free-flowering habit.
N. f. pulchella (pretty).* fl. about seven; perianth pale pink, striped with red; style and filaments white; spathe reddish: scape over 2ft. high. July. l. over 1/2in. wide, glaucous. 1820. (B. M. 2407.) N. humilis (dwarf). fl. purplish-rose, variegated with paler tints, scentless, in a six to twenty-flowered umbel; perianth segments scarcely cohering; scape longer than the leaves. Late summer. l. oblong-linear, somewhat channelled, rounded at the points. (B. M. 726, under name of Amaryllis humilis.) N. japonica. See Lycoris radiata.
N. Plantii (Plant's). A synonym of N. sarniensis Plantii. N. pudica (chaste). fl. six to eight, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long; perianth pure white. streaked with red; scape exceeding the leaves. October. l. 6in. to 8in. long, about 1/4in. wide, narrow-linear, obtuse, not keeled or ribbed. (B. M. 5901.) N. sarniensis (Guernsey).* Guernsey Lily. fl. pale salmon-coloured; perianth segments recurved at the extremity; scape from 2ft. to 2 1/2ft. high, many-flowered. Autumn. l. appearing after the flowers. 1680. (B. M. 294, under name of Amaryllis sarniensis.) N. s. corusca (glittering).* fl. brilliant orange-scarlet, very large, about thirty on a strong scape. l. broad, oblong, entire. h. 1ft. 1809. (B. M. 1089, under name of Amaryllis corusca.) A subvariety, known in gardens as major, has pale orange-scarlet coloured flowers, and much narrower segments, which are scarcely so much recurved at the extremities as in the type. N. s. Plantii (Plant's). This differs from the type in the colour of the flower being a duller crimson, in the longer peduncle, and in the more distinctly unguiculated perianth segments. Possibly a hybrid between N. sarniensis and N. flexuosa. (Gn. March 25, 1882, under name of N. Plantii.) N. s. venusta (charming).* fl. fiery scarlet, in large umbels. June. 1806. A beautiful variety, flowering at the same time as the type. (B. M. 1090, under name of Amaryllis venusta.) N. undulata (wavy-flowered).* fl. soft flesh-colour, with the segments of a wavy or undulating outline; scape about 1ft. high, many-flowered. May. l. narrow-ligulate or strap-shaped, pale green, generally preceding the flowers. 1767. (B. M. 369, under name of Amaryllis undulata.)