84 CLASS HEXANDRIA. 



petals inclining to the campanulate form, and without 

 calyx, the 3 outer petals seeming to answer that 

 purpose, the 3 inner are marked with a longitudi- 

 nal channelled line, the base of which is nectariferous. 

 In the common orange, white, and Philadelphian 

 Lily the corolla forms an erect cup ; but in the Marta- 

 gon, Tiger, Canadian, and Superb Lily (L. super- 

 bum), the petals are so reflected, as to put on al- 

 most the appearance of a turban. The stamina are 

 shorter than the style, and the stigma entire. The 

 capsule is superior, and 3-sided, with 3 cells and 3 

 valves, the valves connected, even after opening, by 

 cancellate or crossing hairs. The seeds are flat and 

 triangular, arranged in 6 rows. The United States 

 affords five or six species of this splendid genus. 

 They generally affect low and rich meadows, or fer- 

 tile shady woods, and thickets. 



The Tulip differs chiefly from the Lily in the absence 

 of a style, the triangular germ being crowned only by 

 a trifid stigma. The corolla is bell-shaped, when open 

 like a Lily, but has none of the nectariferous grooves, 

 and is always more swelled or ventricose towards 

 the base ; 1 or 2 embracing lanceolate leaves, too, 

 with but a single flower on a stem, and that extremely 

 subject to variation by culture, at once distinguish the 

 Tulip from the Lily. There are several species of 

 this vernal queen of flowers and favorite of the florists, 

 of which the Yellow European (Tulipa sylvestris, 

 Eng. Bot. t. 63,) and Van Thol or T. suaveolens, 

 are sensibly fragrant. But the later flowering, and 

 more splendid species, T. gesneriana, is the most re- 

 markable for the variety and beauty of its colors. 

 This particolored hue, brought to such perfection in 

 Holland, is, however, natural to this species, in a 

 lesser degree, even in its native plains of the East. 



Somewhat related to the Tulip, in general aspect. 



