470 MUSCARI. — HYACINTHUS. Lclass vi. order i. 



GENUS VII. MUSCARI.— TouRN. Grape Hyacinth. 



Nat. Ord. AsPHO'DELEiE. R.' Brown. 



Gen. Char. Perianth ovate, inflated, or cylindrical, constricted at 

 the mouth ; the limh very short, of six teeth. Capsule with three 

 prominent angles. Cells two seeded. — Name from ^xoc-xo';, 

 musk ; from the smell of some of the species. 



1. M, racemo'sum, Mill. (Fig. 534.) Starch Grape Hyacinth. 

 Flowers ovate, with six furrows, the upper ones erect, abortive ; leaves 

 linear, channeled, flaccid, keeled at the back, a«d longer than the 

 scape. 



English Flora, vol. ii. p. 149.— Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 

 162. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 269 — Hyacinthus racemosus, Linn. — 

 English Botany, t. 1931.— Nat. Ord. Liliace(S,I>eCaind. Theor. Elem. 



Bulb ovate, enveloped in dark brown coats. Leaves numerous, from 

 eight to twelve inches long, linear, flaccid, of a dark somewhat glaucous 

 green, channeled, striated, and obtusely keeled at the back. Scape 

 shorter than the leaves, erect, round. Inflorescence a terminal densely 

 ovate numerous flowered raceme, the upper ones smaller than the 

 others, on shorter pedicles, and abortive. Flowers of a dark purplish 

 glaucous blue. Perianth ovate, constricted at the mouth, v^'ith six 

 slight furrows and six slender ribs, the limb very short, of six minute 

 teeth, of a very pale purple or while. Stamens inserted into about the 

 middle of the tube, with awl-shaped ^/awiewis, and ovate dark coloured 

 anthers included within the tube. Style erect, short, with an obtuse 

 granulated stigma. Capsule roundish, with three prominent obtuse 

 angles, three celled, three valved, each cell two seeded. 



Habitat — Fields and amongst ruins, in several parts of England. 



Perennial ; flowering in May. 



This is another of our doubtful native plants, though now perfectly 

 naturalized. It is very frequent in corn and grass fields, as well as 

 amongst the vineyards in several parts of Italy, and in many places 

 growing with several other species of the same genus. The odour of 

 the flowers is peculiar, resembling that of wet starch. It is frequently 

 cultivated in gardens, and is a pretty ornamental Spring flower, but 

 does not appear to have been applied to any particular use. 



GENUS VIII. HYACINTH'US Linn. Hyacinth, 



Nat. Ord. Asphho'dele^. R. Brown. 



Gen. Char. Perianth tubular, six-cleft, or six partite, the segments 

 reflexed, or spreading at the apex. Stamens inserted about the 



