I have known the "mystery plant" (Argus, July 5) almost all my life. I first saw the snake lily growing beside the front door of a great-aunt's cottage, near Hastings, in the Thirties and was fascinated by its villainous appearance. My father nicknamed it Mephistopheles.

Many years later, the cottage was sold and, as a memento of my great-aunt's lovely garden, my sister and I rescued this plant and divided it between us. My section was planted by my front door in Woodingdean.

The chalk soil and dry conditions were not ideal but, most years, it flourished. The smell from the flower was not too awful, just enough to attract a few bluebottles.

After a few days of glory, the flower and leaves wither and it is soon difficult to imagine the plant was ever there.

Four years ago, I moved to my present address near Queens Park and have only a tiny patio garden. I brought the snake lily with me and wondered if it could cope with being transferred into builders' clay. After two years of sending up only fragile-looking leaves, this year it had a magnificent flower head.

Who could not admire such a vigorous and adaptable plant? I hope to bequeath it eventually to another lover of exotic plants.

-Barbara Tepping, Park Street, Brighton