ALISMACE/E 



143 



Order XCIV. Aviary llidacecs (3 genera) 



This Order includes the Daffodils and Snow- 

 drops, which, like so many of our handsomest wild 

 flowers, are far more frequently seen growing in 

 gardens than in the open fields and woods. The 

 root is a bulb, from which spring long narrow 

 veined leaves, and a flower-stalk, generally bearing 

 one or several white or yellow flowers, with a 

 6-lobed perianth, and 6 stamens. The ovary is 

 3-celled, and the fruit is a capsule or berry. 



Of the genus Narcissus we have two native 

 species. The Daffodil (JV. Pseudo- Narcissus) bears 

 one large yellow scentless flower on a stalk ; and 

 the Two-flowered Narcissus (IV. biflorus) is sweet- 

 scented, and bears two flowers, with white petals 

 and a yellow centre, on each stalk. They are 

 meadow plants, and more or less poisonous. 



Summer Snowfiake — Leucoium cestivum 



(Plate XCIX) 



This is a plant very similar to the well-known 

 Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), which also ranks 



as a British species ; but it grows to the height 

 of upwards of a foot, and flowers in early summer. 

 There are 6 stamens, and a large clavate style, 

 which serves to attract insects. 



Order XCV. Alismacetz (6 genera) 



This is a small Order of water-plants, of which 

 we have several representatives in Britain. The 

 perianth of the flower is formed of 6 petals ; 

 the three inner ones are often smaller than the 

 others. The flower-heads form spikes or panicles. 



Flowering Rush — Butomus umbellatus 

 (Plate C) 

 This is one of the prettiest of our water-plants, 

 and is common in ponds and near the banks of 

 slowly flowing rivers among reeds and sedges. It 

 is a conspicuous plant, growing to the height of 

 upwards of 2 feet. The leaves are long and narrow, 

 and the flowers grow in an umbel, 20 or 30 

 together, and are protected by bracts at the base 

 of the umbel. The large flowers have 3 red and 



