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White AND gold
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The delicate grass lily or lily of the valley is ideal for table tops or window sills
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THE PETALS of the grass lily look like frozen milk with a pinch of gold dust in the middle. The plant, while not in flower, is not particularly conspicuous, occurring naturally in open, sunlit meadows up to an elevation of 7,000 ft. The grass-like plants, 10 inches tall, stand erect amidst grass. The leaves are slender, sessile and cauline. Only a third of an inch wide, the dark green leaves tend to curl out at the ends. The plants have tubers and fibrous roots near the surface of the soil. One can dig in and separate a plant with one's fingers. When bruised, they smell like onions.
The plants grow in tight bunches. The flower stalks sprout straight from the ground during rains. The flowers are like six-pointed stars. The hybrid and cultivated flowers come in several shades - pink, orange and dark blue. The fruit is a three-valved capsule. The porcelain fine flowers are ideal for table tops and window sills.
Propagation is by separating flowers during the dormant season and planting them in well drained soil in the sunny area of a garden. The plants are happy in pots too and need profuse watering; they however, do not stand waterlogging.
The plant belongs to the family Lilacea and Anguillaria indica is its scientific name. Recent books on gardening refer to it as Iphigenia indica (syn) palluda. This is the lily of the valley of the Book of Psalms in the Bible.
J. MANGALARAJ JOHNSON
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