Stenanthium
(from stenos, narrow, and anthos, a blossom; alluding to the narrow perianth segments and panicles). ORD. Liliaceae. This genus embraces five species of greenhouse or hardy, bulbous plants, of which one is a native of North-west Asia, and the rest are North American. Flowers racemose or paniculate, often nodding, pedicellate; perianth whitish, greenish, or dark purple, narrowly or broadly campanulate, the segments connate in a very short, turbinate tube, spreading above, narrow or lanceolate; stamens six; bracts small or minute. Leaves radical or at the base of the stem, long, linear or linear-lanceolate. Stem erect, tall, simple except the inflorescence, sometimes furnished with a few small leaves. Only three species call for mention here. They thrive in a mixture of sandy loam and peat, and may be increased by division. All are North American.
S. angustifolium (narrow-leaved). fl. greenish-white, the lower ones often sterile, nearly sessile; perianth about 1/3in. in diameter; panicle 1ft. to 2ft. long, 1/3in. to 1/2in. broad, composed of simple, spiked racemes. June and July. l. channelled, 1ft. to 2ft. long. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. high. Hardy. S. a. gramineum (Grass-like). fl. fewer than in the type. l. narrower. SYN. Helonias graminea (B. M. 1599).
S. frigidum (frigid). fl., perianth purplish, 1/2in. to 2/3in. long; racemes lateral, ascending, few-flowered; panicle loose, 1ft. long. June. l., radical ones five or six, firm, linear, acute, glabrous, 2ft. long. Stem 2ft. to 3ft. high, with a few reduced leaves. 1846. Hardy. (F. d. S. 468L; J. H. S. i. 32.) S. occidentale (Western). fl. dark purple, somewhat resembling those of a Hyacinth, campanulate, disposed in a loose raceme. Summer. l. two to four, linear. Stem slender, furnished with a few reduced leaves. 1881. Hardy. (R. G. 1035, f. 3, and 1132, f. 1.)