166 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
the examples of the continental plant I have in cultivation the leaves are 
quite short at the time of flowering; in both cases attaining ultimately 
a length of from 9 inches to 1 foot or more, by ~ to # inch broad. 
Scape subancipitate, furnished with two sharply prominent lines, 3 to 6 
inches high when in flower. Spathe 2-lobed at the apex, with an 
herbaceous strip running down from each lobe, showing that the spathe 
is composed of 2 leaves united nearly to their apex on the back. 
Flower almost always solitary, and apparently never more than 2. 
Perianth more bellshaped than in L. estivum; segments about 1 inch 
long, rhombic-oval, abruptly acuminated into a minute point, the 3 
outer ones broader, white with parallel concolorous veins, and a green 
spot immediately below the apex. Anthers yellow, subapiculate. Style 
white, with a green ring near the apex. Scape lying on the ground 
when in fruit. Fruit herbaceous, oblong-turbinate, about the size of a 
sloe. Seeds with a soft whitish testa, remarkable for the great en- 
largement at the chalaza. 
I am indebted to Mr. I. C. Mansel for living specimens of the 
Dorsetshire plant. 
Spring Snowflake. 
French, Nivéole du printemps. German, Friihlings-Knotenblume. 
This plant grows very abundantly in some meadows, so much so as to overpower 
the grass in spring; but no cattle will eat it. It is pretty and easily propagated, 
and does well to enliven the borders of shrubberies. 
GENUS I7.—GALANTHUS. Linz. 
Perianth coloured, petaloid, regular; tube not prolonged beyond 
the ovary; limb funnelshaped, of 6 divisions free to the base; the 3 
exterior segments oblanceolate-clliptical, concave, entire, or somewhat 
spreading; the 3 interior only half the length of the outer ones, erect, 
wedgeshaped, truncate and notched at the apex. Crown absent. — 
Stamens 6, inserted on the epigynous disk of the ovary; filaments — 
very short; anthers connivent, subaristate, opening by 2 terminal 
pores. Ovary adhering to the tube of the perianth, ovoid, green ; | 
style subulate-filiform; stigma undivided. Capsule ovoid, herbaceous, — 
loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds few, subglobular, with a soft white } 
membranous testa. 
Herbs with tunicated bulbs and 2 or 3 linear-lorate glaucous leaves. 
Scape compressed. Spathe membranous, with 2 herbaceous lines. 
Flower solitary, pedicellate, pendulous; inner segments with a green 
horseshoe mark outside, and green stripes inside. 
, . ” ft 
The name of this genus is derived from the Greek words, ya\a, milk, and 1 Ooc, : 
a flower, descriptive of its milky whiteness. 
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