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tube of tlie flower is very long, arising immediately from the bulb, 

 without any foot-slalk, and at the top is divided into six ovale ob- 

 tuse scoincnls, which are equal, and of a purplo blue colour. In the 

 bottom of the tube is siluatod a roundish gc rm, siij)porling a slender 

 style, wliich is not more than half the lengtli of the petal, crowned 

 ■with lhr(>e oblong golden stigmas, sj)readmg asunder each way, which 

 is ihe Saffron, It flowers in October, and the leaves continue orow- 

 ing all winter; but it never produces seeds in ihis climate. It is 

 supposed by Martyn to be a native of Asia. 



The chief varieties arc: the Sweet-smelling with a smaller, and 

 more compressed root, having a deep blue colour, but varying to a 

 sky-blue: the Mountain, which has a flower of a paler blue colour; 

 the Many-flowering blueish, with numerous sky-blue flowers; and 

 the Small-flowering, having a small deep blue flower. 



The second species has a pretty large compressed bulb, covered 

 with a light brown, netted skin, from wliich arise four or five leaves 

 of a purplish colour on their lower parts: from among these come 

 out one or two flowers, sitting close between the young leaves, never 

 rising above two inches high, and having an agreeable odour. 

 From the centre of the tube a slender style proceeds, which is 

 crowned by a broad flat stigma of a golden colour. After the flower 

 is past, the germ pushes out of the ground. In the wild stale, it 

 is most commonly while, with a pinple base. It is a native of 

 Italy, Sec. 



'J'he chief varieties are : the broad-leaved purple variesrated, 

 which has a flower of a deep blue colour, and stiiped ; the broad- 

 leaved plain pnrj)lc; the broad-leaved violet-coloured, or large 

 deep blue; the while witii a |)urj)le bottom; ihe broad-leaved white 

 vari(>galed; the broad-leaved with many violet-purple flowers striped 

 with white; the broad-leaved ash-coloured; the broad-leaved large 

 yellow; the broad-leaved small pale yellov/ ; the broad-leaved small - 

 yellow striped with black; the narrow-leaved small brimst(;ne; and 

 riie narrow-leaved small while. 



In modern catalogues, many other varieiies of diffeient colours 



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