Synnotia
(named in honour of W. Synnot, who collected many plants at the Cape of Good Hope). Erroneously spelt Synnetia. ORD. Irideae. A small genus (three species) of pretty, greenhouse, bulbous plants, natives of South Africa. Flowers rather large, sessile; perianth funnel-shaped, with erecto-patent, unequal lobes; stamens affixed at base of throat; spathes scattered at the sides of the stem, rather broad, cut or fimbriate-toothed at apex, one-flowered. Leaves few, flat, linearensiform, flaccid. Stem simple or very slightly branched. Propagation is readily effected by seeds; or by offsets, which are freely produced. Seeds should be sown in pans of sandy soil, about September, and placed in a cool frame. The young plants may remain in the seedpans for the first year, when they should be either potted singly or planted out. Three or four years elapse before they flower. Propagation by offsets is a much quicker method, as the plants then generally flower the second year. Synnotias, cultivated as pot plants, are adapted for conservatory and cool greenhouse decoration, in spring, The bulbs should be potted rather firmly, in sandy loam and leaf soil, during October, placing about six or eight in a 5in. pot, and covering them with 1in. of soil. The pots may then be plunged or stood on ashes in a cool frame, and but little water will be required throughout the winter. When the flowers appear, more water may be given, and the plants fully exposed to light and plenty of air: draughts, however, must be avoided. After flowering, growth and a gradual ripening should be encouraged, by keeping the plants watered for a time. When the leaves die away, the bulbs may be shaken out and stored in bags until the autumn, or they may be allowed to remain in the soil and be kept dry. S. bicolor (two-coloured). fl. alternate, distant; perianth violet and yellow, the tube curved, the segments ovate; spathe 2/3in. long; scape erect, 6in. to 10in. high, simple or branched, leafy. March. l. distichous, striated, acute, 2/3in. broad. 1786. (B. H. ii. 25; B. M. 548, under name of Ixia bicolor.) S. galeata (helmeted). fl., perianth ringent, the three lower segments yellowish, the others white tinged with red. l. ovateensiform. S. variegata (variegated).* fl. alternate, distant; perianth yellow and violet, the tube elongated, 1 1/2in. long, the uppermost segment erect, the two lateral ones recurved; scape terete, simple, 1 1/2ft. high. May. l. ovate-lanceolate-ensiform, the lower ones distichous, the upper ones alternate. 1825. (S. B. F. G. 150.)
