LIMACE.E. 394 ALETRI3. 



. FI Y A C I' N T H U S . 

 Perianth siibglobose or campnmilate, regular. G-rleft ; 3 

 nectariferous pores at top of the ovaiy ; stamens issuing fiom 

 the middle of ihe segments ; cells of the capsule about 2-seed- 

 ed. 



Hijacinllai.i, according to Grecian fable, was killed by Zephyrus and trana- 

 formod into tliis flower. Tlie species are natives of the Levant. 



H. ORIENTA'LIS.— Perianth funnel-form, half C-cleft. ventricose at the 

 base. The hyacinth is a well known, splendid flower, long prized and culti- 

 vated. Leaves thick, linear-lanceolate, 'S — 5 inches long. Scape twice as 

 long as the leaves, thick, beaiing a dense, lliyrsoid raceme of numerous blue 

 flowers. A plant peculiarly adapted to pallor cultivation in bulb glasses. 



Other ornamental species sometimes cultivated are H. Eoritvoiur.s, grapt 

 hyiici'Hii.wMi globose flowers ; H. comosvs. ptirple grape /njacimli. with pris- 

 matic flowers; and H. uacemosus, hare-bdl lujacintli, with ovoid flowers. 



Tribe 4. ANTHERICE^. 



J{ot lulhous. Stem, if developed, erect. Rant fasciculate or fibrous. Leaves 

 never curiaceous nor permanent. 



10. ASPHO'DELUS, 



Perianth 6-pailed, spreading, with 6 valves, covering the 

 ovary; stamens issuing from the valves. 



Gr. a,, privative, and ^(paXKtOj to surpass; a flower «o< surpassed in beauty. 

 Fine garden plants from S. Europe. 



1. A. LU'TF.US. — Siem leafy ; /e7rcs 3-cornered. Native of Sicily. A 

 plant of easy culture and rapid increase. Stem :J feet high, thickly invested 

 with 3-cornered, hollow leaves. Floweis yellow, in a long spike, reaching 

 Irom the top almost to the base of stem. in. King's Spear. Yeiluw Asphodel. 



2. \. JtAMO'suS. — S/em naked, branched ; perf/inc/es alternate, longer 

 tlian bract; /cntics ensiform, carinate, smooth. Native of S. Europe. Notso 

 tall as the preceding, but with larger, white flowers. Jn. Branching Asphodel. 



11. ALE'TRIS. 

 Perianth G-cleft, tubular, rugose, persistent; stamens issu- 

 ing at tiie top of the tube, style 3-sidcd, 3-partible; capsule 

 opening at top, many-seeded. 



Gr. (uXuccq) uXiia-TQOi, meal ; from the powdery dust with which the plant 

 is covered. Lvs. radical, rosulate. Scape many-flowered. 



A. FARINO'SA. 



Leaves broad-lanceolate ; flowers oblong-tubular, pedice'led ; perianth in 

 fruit rugose or mealy in appearance. Growi in low grounds. Root pre- 

 morse, intensely bitter. Scape 20—30 inches high, with remote scales or 

 bracts and surrounded at base with a circle of lanceolate, sessile leaves. These 

 are 3—4 inches long. ^ as wide and lie flat upon the ground. Flowers in a 

 lonir, thin raceme. Terianlh white, i inch long, on very short pedicels, rugose 

 without, when old. Medicinal. July. Star-grass. CuUc-root. 



