412 FLORA HISTORICA. 



committed to the earth at about three inches in 

 depth, forming them into clumps wherever it may 

 appear desirable to add dwarf flowers. They 

 have the best effect when springing out of turf, 

 as the naked appearance of the flower is not then 

 so conspicuous, and the purple or the white co- 

 rollas shine to more advantage on the green 

 sward than on the bare earth. There are several 

 varieties of these flowers, some being perfectly 

 white, others of a light or a dark purple, and 

 some that have the petals striped with white and 

 purple. These varieties are farther increased 

 by the flowers being doubled. 



The Broad-leaved Colchicum Byzantiniim is a 

 distinct species that grows naturally in the Le- 

 vant, and which appears to have been first intro- 

 duced into this country in the early part of the 

 reign of King Charles the First. 



The Chequer-flowered Colchiaim Variegatum 

 was also amongst the flowers that were cultivated 

 in the parterre of the unfortunate Queen Hen- 

 rietta Maria at her gardens at Edgecombe in 

 Surrey. This latter species was originally brought 

 from the Greek Isles ; and as it is more tender 

 than the other kinds it is generally treated as a 

 green-house plant, and frequently blossoms as 

 late as November, displaying its beautifully- 



