AND OF THE CROWN IMPERIAL. 



99 



of the past spring which belonged to the same axis with the 

 withered flower-stem are entirely dead. The young bulb (Fig. 

 1 , c ; Fig. 2) contains in autumn all the parts of the plant which 

 is to blow in the following spring : the scales of its basal axis 

 have become stronger ; they inclose in their centre the still short 

 and thick peduncle, which is naked at its base, but plentifully 

 furnished above with leaves and flower-buds. There is also, 

 already, in the axil which is formed by the uppermost scale of the 

 axis with the peduncle, the bud of the primary bulb which is to 



Fig. 

 Fritillaria imperialis. 



blossom in the second following spring ; and there is frequently 

 another in the axil formed by the penultimate scale in the 

 flower-stem. It flowers occasionally at the same time with the 

 first bud, so that there are two flower-stems in one plant. Many 

 years, however, sometimes pass before it flowers, and it becomes 

 consequently, when the axis which originally united the two buds 

 is withered, entirely separated from the principal bud. 



