THE MONOCOTYLEDONES 



200 = 



species of Hyacinthus scattered through the IVIediterranean 

 region and Africa. From H. orientalis have been produced all 

 the cultivated forms now grown in gardens and greenhouses. 

 The British Flora, besides the Bluebell, also includes S. verna 

 and S. autiimnalis and three species of Ornithogahan (Star of 

 Bethlehem). 



Colchiceae. Rootstock a corm. Leaves radical, scape below the 

 surface within the leaf sheath, one- to three-flowered, flowers 

 appearing in succession, naked. Perianth segments equal. 

 Stamens six. Ovary trilocular. Fruit a septicidal capsule. 

 Colchicum, Bulbocodium, Merindera. 



The genus Colchicum (Fig. 1942) contains forty-five species which 

 are distributed through Europe, western Asia and North Africa. 



Fig. 1942. — Colchicum speciosum var. album. F"lowers appearing before the leaves. Culti 



vated. Photograph by R. A. Malby. 



Reference has already been made to the large corm produced 

 below the soil. In C. autumnale the perianth is long and the 

 ovary remains below the soil where it is protected from danger. 

 The flowers are protogynous and are visited by bees. These 

 flowers are developed without leaves in the autumn and the 

 leaves appear the following spring, after which the capsule is 

 brought up above the soil by the elongation of its stalk. Both 

 seed and corm are used medicinally in the preparation of 

 Colchicine. There is only one species of Biilbocodiuin, B. 



