then lengthened and becoming patent when the flower 

 expands ; somewhat more elongated and deflexed in fruit. 

 Bractece at first equal in length with the peduncle, then 

 longer, membranaceous, whitish, sheathing. Perianth of 

 six spreading, ovato-acuminate leaves, white, green in the 

 centre : the three inner ones smaller and less green on the 

 back. Stamens opposite the segments of the perianth. 

 Filaments white, subulate, very broad at the base, and 

 nearly equal in size and shape. Anthers oblong, yellow. 

 Germen obovate, deeply three-lobed, each lobe furrowed 

 in the centre, so that there are three deep alternating with 

 three shallow furrows ; three-celled, cells with many seeds 

 arranged in two vertical rows in the inner angle. Style 

 short, straight. Stigma small, triquetrous. Fruit (imma- 

 ture; of the same form and structure as the germen. 



Marshall Bieberstein and Mr. Ker are surely not cor- 

 rect in considering this as so closely allied to O. umbellatum 

 that they can scarcely point out any distinction, except the 

 hairiness of the leaves. The inflorescence seems to me 

 very different, the raceme being almost radical, the pedun- 

 cles much more spreading, and becoming deflexed as the 

 fruit approaches to maturity. 



It is a native of the Crimea, and was introduced by the 

 Horticultural Society of London, in 1821. In the green- 

 house of our Botanic Garden it flowers in March, and con- 

 tinues in blossom during many successive days. 



Fig. 1. Stamens. 2. Pistil. 3. Section of the Germen. — Magnified. 



