1
P L A T E DLXXXVI.
L I L I U M SPECIOSUM.
Showy Lily.
CLASS VL ORDER I.
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointai.
ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.
COROLLA. 6-petala, campaniilata : nectarium linea
longitudinalis : capsulse valvulis pilo
cancellato connexis.
BLOSSOM 6-leaved, bell-shaped. Nectary a longitudinal
line. Valves of tiie seed-pod connected
with a lattice-work of hairs.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
LILIUM foliis sparsis, ovato-oblongis : floribus
cemuis mos revolutis : caule ramoso.
Lilium speciosum. Willd. Sp. PL
LILY with scattered oval-oblong leaves: the
flowers nodding, soon rolled back, and the
stem branching.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. Seed-bud and pointai.
WE can but seldom have the pleasure of recording so valuable an acquisition to our collections as this
truly magnificent species, introduced from China by the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks about the year
1807, and a figure of it also published by him in 179I ,being plate 4 7 of the Icones Selectae, from drawings
made in Japan by Kaempfer, and now deposited in the British Museum. The woolliness and
bulbs on the stem in our specimen, and the want of constriction at the base of the leaves, (if any
i u c h ever exists in nature,) differ considerably from the figure above quoted ; but tlie strong general
resemblance, and a consideration of the many variations to which other species of this genus are subject,
induce us to regard it as a variety from the same common stock. I he stem rises to between three
and four feet in height, and sometimes even higher ; and produces from three to nine or more flowers,
-according to its strength and situation. The bulb which it produces from the base of every leaf forms
a future plant, and thus to unrivalled beauty adds abundance. Its time of flowering enhances its value,
being in August, when all other lilies have deserted the parterre. Mr. Wiiliams, nurserynaan
at Turnham Green, favoured us with the specimen.