BULBS OF LILIES. 103 



Lilium candidum, L. L. Martagon and L. bulbiferwn, L. 



If the bulb of L. candidum be examined in autumn, the follow- 

 ing structure is found. On tbe outside we observe ovate rather 

 fleshy scales which have a scar at their apex (Fig. 1, b). The 

 number of these varies from six to sixteen. The front of the 

 uppermost of these scales, in strong bulbs, is the withered stump 

 of the peduncle of the past summer. These scales are succeeded 

 by numerous perfectly fresh-pointed scales, varying from six to 

 twenty, without however presenting any intermediate forms. 

 These, again, without any transition, are succeeded by from six to 

 sixteen leaves, which, like the scales, are spirally arranged. 

 These inclose in their centre the undeveloped peduncle, richly 

 furnished with leaves (Fig. 2, a) ; in weak examples no flowers 

 appear, whereas in stronger roots the flower-buds are visible. In 

 the axil formed by the innermost leaf of the basal axis and the 

 peduncle, there is the rudiment of a bud in the shape of small 

 fleshy scales or cones (c), in which a spiral arrangement is mani- 

 fest. The larger and outermost of these are next to the flower- 

 stem, without however inclosing the smaller. The leaves of the 

 basal axis give rise to the scarred scales of the following year by 

 reason of the decay of their lamina. Exactly as in the Hyacinth 

 there is an annual succession of scales and leaves, only in the one 

 case the scales, and more especially the basal portion of the leaves, 

 are very broad, in the other far narrower ; the outer scales, or 

 sheaths, therefore, of the Hyacinth involve the inner completely, 

 and consequently form a tolerably firm bulb ; in the Lily, on the 

 contrary, the outer scales merely imbricate the inner, and being 

 fixed to the axis by a small point only, easily separate from one 

 another. In the Hyacinth the produce of several years is com- 

 bined in one bulb ; but in the White Lily, as also in the Crown 

 Imperial, that of two only, not, however, including the bud. It 

 is not indeed asserted that this is constantly the case. The Lily 

 bulb differs from that of the Hyacinth surprisingly in the evolu- 

 tion of its component parts ; in the former the leaves are already 

 formed in autumn, and stand on the part of the axis which in 

 the next year is terminated by the flower-stem, while in the 

 Hyacinth the leaves are first developed in spring at the same time 

 with the peduncles. 



The branched roots break forth from the lower and older part 

 of the basal axis. 



The bulbs of L. Martagon and bulbiferum agree, on the whole. 



