Pancratium
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| Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture |
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Pancratium (Greek, all-powerful; referring to supposed medicinal value). Amaryllidaceae. Attractive summer- and winter-flowering bulbs, bloomed inside or some of them grown outside in mild climates with protection. Very like Hymenocallis, being the Old World representatives of this group, differing botanically in having many superposed ovules in each cell rather than (as in Hymenocallis) 2 basal collateral ovules. Bulb tuni-cated: lvs. linear to lorate, mostly appearing with the fls., the latter in an umbel terminating an erect solid mostly stout scape or peduncle and white or greenish; perianth funnel-shaped, with a long tube, the segms. equal, short and spreading or ascending; stamens inserted at the throat of the perianth and joined by a web or cup: fr. a loculicidally 3-valved caps, with angled black seeds.—Species 14 or more in the Medit. region, eastward to India and southward in Afr. Pan-cratiums and hymenocallis, sometimes called spider- lilies or spirit-lilies, form a beautiful group of bulbs, hardy or tender, some blooming in winter, others in summer, and all characterized by the beautiful floral structure known as a staminal cup. This cup is white and has the texture of petals. It is fringed or toothed in a great variety of ways. The filaments growing out of the cup are long or short. The perianth-segms. are usually long, slender, and gracefully recurved.CH
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Cultivation
The species of pancratium, coming as they do from Africa, southern Asia, and southern Europe, in most cases need a high temperature while in growth and a period of rest after flowering. The "rest" is secured by placing them in a house where there is plenty of ventilation and a cooler temperature. Gradually withhold water, giving only just sufficient to keep in a life-like state.CH
The bulbs should be kept in this semi-dry state through the winter. After the middle of January, they may be repotted or have a top-dressing. For a compost, use a good strong loamy soil four parts, well-decayed cow-manure one part. When the roots get well through this compost, liquid manure will be useful once a week. Those bulbs that do not need repotting may have some of the old compost removed, but care must be taken not to injure any of the roots. They may now be placed in a house with a night temperature of 60°. As growth progresses, the temperature may be increased at night to 65° or 70° and at day, with sun, from 80° to 85°. Keep well up to the glass so their growth will be as stocky as possible. In their growing season, they will consume large quantities of water, and they should never become entirely dry at the roots. Give plenty of syringing in bright weather, and ventilate so as to keep temperature right. When they show flower, they may be given a drier and more airy house. For a winter temperature, 50° to 55° will be high enough, with about 10° increase with sunshine.CH
Propagation
Pancratiums can be increased by offsets and seed. The offsets may be separated from the parent plant and placed' rather close in pans in a light mixture of equal parts of leaf- mold, peat, and sand, given good drainage. When they have made a few roots, they may be potted up into small pots and grown on. When sowing seed, prepare some pans by giving plenty of drainage and filling with a mixture of leaf-mold, peat, and sand, screening some of it fine for the top. Sprinkle the seed all over the surface and cover with the fine mixture, press firmly and give ordinary stove temperature. Maintain an even moisture with these pans. When they start to come up, place well up to the glass. When large enough, prick out into other pans or flats, using a heavier compost. Pot off when larger and grow without rest through the winter. In the spring they will require 5- or 6-inch pots. Their management from this on will be that already mentioned. CH
Pests and diseases
Give light fumigations often in order to keep down aphids and thrips. Scale and mealy-bug, which often get into the axils of the leaves, can be removed by the use of a soft brush. CH
Species
| Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture |
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P. Amancaes, Ker-Hymenocallis Amancaes (see suppl. list, p. 1627).—P. amanum, Andr-H. ovata.—P. calathinum, Ker-H. calathina.—P. caribaeum, Linn-H. caribaea.—P. corondrium, Le Conte- H. occidentalis.—P. fragrans, Saliab.-H. ovata, but P. fragrans. Willd.-H. caribaea.—P. galvestonense, Hort., presumably -H. Galvestonensis -P Horrisii, Hort. is presumably H. Harrisiana.—P. littorale, Jacq.-H. littoralis.—P. mexicanum-H. rotata probably.—P. ovatum, Mill.-H. ovata.—P. rotatum, Ker-H. rotata.—P. undulatum, HBK. equals H. undulata. CH
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Gallery
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References
- Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
External links
- w:Pancratium. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
- Pancratium QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)
