Ornithoglossum
(from ornis, ornithos, a bird, and glossa, a tongue; alluding to the resemblance existing in the petals). SYNS. Cymation, Lichtensteinia. ORD. Liliaceae. A genus comprising two species (or well-marked varieties) of greenhouse bulbous plants, natives of South Africa. Flowers long-stalked, solitary in the axils of the floral leaves or bracts, in loose, terminal, often few-flowered racemes; perianth segments distinct, linear or linear-lanceolate. Stem leaves lanceolate or narrow, continuous with the sheath; upper floral ones linear. Stem simple, erect. Ornithoglossums thrive in sandy loam, and require but little care. When growing, they must, of course, be supplied with water; but after flowering, the pots may be stored in a dry, cool place until it is time to repot the following spring. "We find, upon trial, that all the Cape bulbs may be grown with advantage in the open ground, by making up a bed of light, sandy soil, and planting the bulbs from 4in. to 8in. deep, according to their size; they may be planted in April, and, after they have done flowering, may be taken up and kept dry till the following spring, in the same manner as Tigridia; or, if left in the ground all the winter, they will require to be covered with some dry litter or old tan, so as to keep the frost from the bulbs" (Sweet). O. glaucum (glaucous). fl. green, edged with purplish-brown, scentless; perianth segments equal, subulate-lanceolate, reflexed, shortly unguiculate; scape leafy, angular. December. l. opposite, alternate; radical ones close, largest, channelled, lanceolate, long-acuminate, recurved. Bulb 1 1/2in. high, ovate-pyramidal. h. 6in. 1825. (A. B. R. 233; B. M. 994, under name of Melanthium viride.) O. undulatum (wave-leaved). fl. green, with purplish markings, nodding, fragrant at night, but scentless during the day; perianth segments narrow-lanceolate, acute, sessile, reflexed a little above the base; scape short and stout, leafy. September. l. radical, distichous, lower ones broadest, lanceolate, tapering to a point; margins brownish-purple, undulated. Root a bulb-tuber, large, solid, and covered with a brown shell. h. 6in. 1825. (S. B. F. G. 131.)