AGAPANTH US, in botany, a genus of the Hexandria Monoania class and or der, of the natural order ol' : the calyx is a spathe ; the corolla is one pe talled ; the stamina are six filaments, in serted into the thmat, shorter than the corolla; the anthers kidney-shaped and incumbent; the pistillum is a superior germ; the style filiform, of the length of three stamens; the stigma simple or tri fid; the pericarpium is an oblong capsule; the seeds numerous, oblong, compressed, ;mil enlarged with a membrane. There is one species, viz. A. umbellatus, or African blue lily. This is the African tube-rose hyacinth, with a blue umbellated flow er. The root of this plant is compos ed of thick fleshy fibres ; floa the same head arises a cluster oT-Raves, which are thick and succulent, and of a dark green colour. Between these issues the flower stalk, supporting an umbel of blue flowers in a sheath. and earh flower standing on a pedicle, about an inch long, l'he umbel being large, the flowers nu merous, and of a light blue colour, make a fine appearance. They come out at the
end of August, or beginning of Septem ber, and frequently continue in beauty till spring. It is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, from whence it was brought to Holland, and in 1692 it was cultivated at Hampton court.
This plant is propagated by offsets, ta ken at the latter end of June, planted in separate pots, with light kitchen-garden earth, and placed in a shady situation. In five weeks the offsets will put off new roots, and the pots should then be re moved to a more sunny situation, and have more water. In September they will put out their flower-stalks, and toward the end of the month the flowers mill begin to open, and should be removed under shelter in bad weather, but in good wea ther exposed to the free air. Toward the end of October they should be removed to the green-house, and have the benefit of free air, and be occasionally watered during winter, in mild weather, but in frost they'• nhould be kept dry.