Eucharis grandiflora

Read about Eucharis grandiflora in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Eucharis grandiflora, Planch. (E. amazonica, Lind.). Amazon Lily. Stab Of Bethelhem (a name also applied to Ornithogalum). Fig. 1432. Bulb globular, 2 in. diam.: Lvs. 2-4 to each stem, the petiole about 12 in. long; If.-blade 1 ft. or more long and 5-(5 in. broad, oblong: scape 1-2½ ft., bearing an umbel of 3-6 large (4 in. across), very fragrant star-like fls. on pedicels nearly or quite 1 in. long; segms. spreading, oblong and obtuse; tube of perianth cylindrical and curved, 2 in. long; cup forming a distinct projecting tube. B.M. 4971. F.S. 9:957; 12:1216-17. Gn. 48, p. 217; 59, p. 25; 61, p. 125; 63, pp. 71, 131; 66, p. 412; 76, p. 67; 77, p. 418. G.C. III. 7:193; 16:665; 28:115; 35:117; 41:71; 51: 141. R.H. 1912, p. 115. G. 3:407; 9:301 (E. amazonica var. grandiflora); 10:5. G.L. 21:476. G.M. 46:83. G.W. 2, p. 87. G.Z. 2:1. A.F. 5:363; 8:445. F.E. 8:1000. F.R. 1:11; 2:364. Var. Moorei, Baker, has smaller, rounder and thicker Lvs., and smaller fls. with the cup lined with yellow.—Of all warm greenhouse bulbous flowering plants, E. grandiflora (E. amazonica of the gardener) stands without a rival in the purity and beauty of its bloom.—Prop, by offsets, but one must always bear in mind that these plants do not like to be disturbed much at the roots, and it will be some time before they recover from the operation of being divided. The spring is the best time to separate the bulbs. Turn the plant out of its pot, and take a hose with a gentle pressure on it and wash all the loam carefully away from the roots, care being taken to break as few as possible.—It thrives well in a good turfy loam. Add about a third of dried cow-manure, with as much sand and charcoal to keep the whole porous. The pots should be well drained with crocks, as these plants will never do well if the soil gets into a "sour" condition. Three bulbs to a 6-inch pot are enough, but if large specimens are desired for exhibitions, increase the number and the size of pot, having in view what is desired. Do not give much water after plants are divided, until growth has begun. When they are growing vigorously, a copious supply of water is required. A temperature of 65° by night should be maintained, and during the day it may run to 80° or 85". The air should never be allowed to become "stagnant." This applies, of course, to all kinds of plants grown in glass structures. It must be remembered that in their native place the plants grow outdoors, and in heating greenhouses allowance should be made for the free admission of fresh air at all times. Eucharis like a light shade over them during the brightest part of the day, but from about the end of Sept. until March they will stand all the sun possible. E. grandiflora can be flowered 2 or 3 times during the year.—When the Lvs. are fully matured, cease watering until signs of flagging of the foliage is noticed, then water again to freshen them up. Keep this treatment up for a month, that is alternately drying and watering. The temperature may be lowered 5" during this resting-period. Start the plants by giving them a thorough soaking of water, and raise the temperature again to not less than 65° by night. The fl.- sts. will soon appear, and they may be watered with manure water, as advised for Dipladenia. until they begin to open, when it should be withheld until they have finished flowering. When the fl.-sts. have all been removed, a new set of lvs. will be meanwhile pushing up, and they may be again fed as advised above, until they are fully developed; and again treat them in every way as before. All the insect pests are liable to thrive on Eucharis, and the plants may be fumigated as advised for other greenhouse plants. Red-spider may be kept down by the syringe. (George F. Stewart.) The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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