Schelhammera
(named after G. C. Schelhammer, 1649-1716, professor at Jena). SYN. Parduyna. ORD. Liliaceae. A small genus (two species) of greenhouse, perennial herbs, with fibrous roots and simple or branched stems, natives of Eastern Australia. Flowers terminal, pedicellate, solitary or umbellate, sessile within the last leaves; perianth of six distinct, deciduous segments, nearly equal and similar; stamens six, shorter than the segments. Leaves sessile, ovate or lanceolate, membranous. These pretty flowering plants succeed in a warm border, but the protection of a greenhouse is necessary during winter. A mixture of peat and loam is suitable for their culture. Propagation may be readily effected by division.
S. multiflora (many-flowered). fl. pure white, several in a terminal umbel, with sometimes a few bracts at the base of the pedicels besides the involucral leaves; pedicels 3/4in. to 1in. long. June. l. 1in. to nearly 2in. long, firmer than in the other species, but not so broad at the base, the margins quite entire. Stems from a knotted rhizome, simple or branched, 6in. to nearly 12in. high. 1824. (L. B. C. 1511.) S. multiflora (many-flowered), of Loddiges. A synonym of Kreysigia multiflora. S. undulata (undulated). fl. pale lilac, solitary, or rarely two together at the ends of the branches; pediceles 1/2in. to 1in. long, without bracts. June. l. ovate-lanceolate, 1in. to nearly 2in. long, varying in breadth, the margins minutely undulated. Stems slender, diffuse and branching at base, ascending or erect, rarely above 6in. in height. 1824. (B. M. 2712.)