1922] Long,—Muscari comosum found in Philadelphia 19 
sterile flowers and having the inflorescence transformed into a mass 
of finely-cut lilae shreds. "The plant has been listed by very few 
American seedsmen, and even such a well known and large establish- 
ment as J. M. Thorburn & Co. of New York City never had more than 
the most limited sale for these bulbs, as they have informed me. Prof 
L.:H. Bailey, one of our foremost horticulturists, has written me that 
he has no information on how extensively the true M. comosum is 
grown in this country, but is of the opinion that it is rarely planted, 
nor does he often see monstrosum. In his authoritative Standard 
Cyclopedia of Horticulture it is classed among “fancier’s plants, 
interesting chiefly to skilled amateurs.” 
If it is an actual fact that this species does not occur in cultivation 
about Philadelphia (and sufficient effort has been expended to suggest 
that, if grown here, it must be exceedingly rare) one is perforce led 
to believe that this occurrence may well be of direct foreign introduc- 
tion. The associated species on the sides of the dyke were distinctly 
types of foreign weeds rather than escapes from cultivation—in fact 
a seedling Allium of doubtful identity was the only species noted that 
could by any possibility suggest cultivation. Characteristic associates 
were Sisymbrium altissimum, Thlaspi arvense, Lactuca Scariola, 
species of Bromus, Lepidium, Melilotus. 
Muscari comosum proves to be an unusually attractive species 
and perhaps some description of it may not be without interest, 
especially as it may possibly lay a certain small claim, like some 
foreigners, to being “ American.” 
The leaves arise in earliest spring, or even in late winter in mild 
years, but the flower-eluster does not appear for some time, rarely 
before late April. The flowering period is in May, lasting only about. 
ten days or two weeks. Fruit matures during July, and after the 
dehiscing of the capsules the plant soon dies down. 
The most unique feature of the species lies in the flowers. The 
lower ones on the inflorescence are normal and fertile but the upper 
are sterile, abortive, and markedly different in appearance. Before 
the fertile flowers open they are of a deep, rich royal-purple and 
borne on ascending pedicels. At anthesis the pedicels have elongated 
and become stiffly horizontal, while the perianth has lost most of its 
purple coloring, having faded to a dull brownish on the distal half 
and dull yellowish at the base. As the progression of bloom passes 
up the scape a very loose, open raceme is finally formed. Surmounting 
