Lilium Brownii var. Colchesteri, Wilson
85
the survival of this plant is due not only to the fact that wanton gather- ing of its blooms would soon lead to its extermination but also to the fact that the Chinese gather the bulbs for food. Since this Lily has been pro- tected it has steadily increased in numbers especially during the last few years and it is now relatively common in many places on Hong Kong island, less so on the neighbouring islands and mainland. Victoria Peak and High West are two of its favoured localities. The lily blooms from mid June to the end of July, perhaps the first 10 days of July is the most likely time to see the most perfect specimens. The photograph, plate 17 was taken on the Peak near the head of the Pokfulam valley. One afternoon I looked out of a window of a block of flats on the Peak and saw below me several magnificent lilies in full bloom; examination through a monocular shewed that one stalk possessed 4 perfect blooms. Picking up camera, stand, plates, and filter, I rushed out and within twenty minutes had penetrated the undergrowth which had separated me from my objective. No sooner were the photographs taken than a tropical storm burst and within a few seconds I had been converted into the similitude of a bedraggled rat: but the negatives were kept dry. The other photograph, plate 18, which shews clearly the shape and size of the leaves, was taken on High West a few days later, within two yards of the path. It may come as a surprise to many that such a lily can be found growing wild so close to the public path, but such flowers will only remain and increase in numbers if they are left alone and not picked to decorate a dinner table for an hour or so.
In the Hong Kong markets lily bulbs under the name of A Sang pako hop, living hundred hop, (sometimes called A, Sang1 Pak. Hop, living white hop), can be purchased at, or about, 65 cents a catty. For $5.00 I purchase 17 large bulbs each with several buds, this works out at about 10 cents a flower. These bulbs are sold for food and medicine and not for the flowers which they might produce. They are gathered in the Lam Hung, mountain range in northern Kwangtung in autumn at the close of the flowering period. The bulbs are boiled in water, the liquid being subsequently used for medicinal purposes and the bulbs eaten; they are slightly bitter. The bulbs are also sometimes used in soup. Another kind of bulb larger and more expensive, under the name is Tit Pak, Fu, is sometimes obtainable; this is used for mdicinal purposes only and not for food.
I have had great difficulty in arriving at the correct local name for the bulbs of Lilium brownii var. colchesteri. The 4 Sang' pak, hop, of the market does not appear to be this lily at all. The bulbs are being grown at the University and when the flowers have opened it will be pos- sible to say definitely one way or the other: at present I am inclined to Wilson, think that they are the bulbs of Lilium tigrinum Ker-Gawler. loc. cit. pp. 73-74 writes of this lily "The Tiger Lily is probably the oldest cultivated Lily. It has been grown for more than a thousand years by the Chinese for its bulb, which they esteem as an esculent, and so, too, do the Koreans and Japanese. It is found growing in many parts of the Orient, but few have seen it really spontaneous. In China I have seen it undoubted-
May 1933,
100
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