146 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



in some parts of Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 

 and flowers in June. It grows to the height of 2 

 feet, the roots are fleshy, and the leaves are linear, 

 and all radical. The flowers are large, and grow 

 in panicles, on short stalks. The petals are equal, 

 yellow and fragrant, and the petals are curved 

 inwards. The fruit is a capsule containing a few 

 black seeds. 



Meadow Saffron — Colchicum autumnale 



(Plate CVI) 



The Meadow Saffron and one or two allied 

 plants are sometimes separated from the Liliacecz 

 as a distinct Order, under the name Melanthacece 

 or Colchicacece, because the styles are not united 

 but separate. The species figured has a large 

 bulb (or corm) covered with brown scales, from 

 which rise long broad leaves in spring, which 

 afterwards wither, and are succeeded in autumn by 

 a purple flower with a very long tube, traversed 

 by three styles throughout its whole length. Our 

 figures are much reduced ; the leaves are often 



9 or 10 inches long, and the tube of the flower is 

 funicular. It is a common meadow plant in many 

 parts of the country, but is carefully extirpated by 

 farmers, for it is a powerful poison, and sheep and 

 cattle sometimes die from its effects. 



In poisonous doses the plant produces vomiting 

 and purging ; but a medicine is obtained from the 

 corm and seeds, which is of great value in easing 

 gout, and is also useful in dropsy, liver complaints, 

 and asthma. 



Order XCVIII. Juncacecs (2 genera) 



These plants are called Rushes, and there is a 

 considerable number of species. Nearly all the 

 species of the typical genus /uncus inhabit more 

 or less swampy places, while the Wood Rushes 

 (Luzula) prefer dry places. They have a thick 

 creeping root called a rhizome, from which rise 

 hollow green stems containing pith, with long, 

 narrow, cylindrical, sharp-pointed or grass-like 

 leaves, and panicles of dry flowers resembling those 

 of grasses. The perianth has 6 segments, with 



