252 LILIACE^ 



hidden the blossom ; the petals and stamens appearing as a uniform papilla 

 not yet closed, as in the latter state of the flower-bud, with the pistil in the 

 middle, as a little three-lobed papilla. The spike of the Hyacinth is yet 

 more advanced at the same period in the interior of the many-scaled bud ; 

 for the three outer sepals of each flower begin already to close up. 



What flower the ancients might have termed the Hyacinth, is uncertain. 

 Some have thought that the fritillary, others, that the Martagon lily, was 

 the Greek Hyacinth. The flower was worn by the maidens of Greece who 

 ofliciated at bridal festivities ; and an annual festival, termed Hi/acinthia, was 

 held in Laconia in honour of Hyacinthus and Apollo. Homer speaks of the 

 plant : — 



" And sudden Hyacinths the turf bestrow." 



Macaulay, in his paper on "The Flower-gardens of the Ancients," quotes 

 an allusion of Tibullus, in Avhich the surpassing beauty of a woman is com- 

 pared to that of the Hyacinth, which exceeds in loveliness all flowers of the 

 garden. The Oriental poets, as Hafiz, often describe waving tresses as 

 resembling the curled petals of the Hyacinth ; and " Hyacinthine locks " 

 has become a common comparison. 



2. Vernal Squill (S. vhim). — Flowers in a hemispherical corymb ; bracts 

 lanceolate, blunt : leaves linear, channelled ; bulb coated. This lovely little 

 plant is occasionally found growing in great profusion in rocky pastures near 

 the sea, but mostly on the western coasts, and is a frequent flower in the 

 Orkney Isles. It occurs but very rarely in east and north-east Ireland. 

 It is about five or six inches high ; and in April, May, and June, its clusters 

 of star-like, sweetly-scented flowers of brilliant blue, and its numerous dark 

 green smooth leaves, often attract the notice of those who wander on the 

 shores of Cornwall, not only on the sea-clifFs, but on heathy commons several 

 miles inland. In this species the leaves precede the flowers. Its dry cap- 

 sules, full of glossy black seeds, are conspicuous until very late in the year. 



3. Twin-leaved Squill {S. bifdlia). — Flowers in a somewhat coiymbose 

 cluster, without bracts ; leaves lanceolate. This plant has much paler 

 blossoms than the last, and has seldom more than two leaves. It flowers 

 in March and April, and was recorded from the west of England a hundred 

 and twenty years ago, but is not a native. 



4. Autumnal Squill (S. autumndlis). — Cluster somewhat corymbose, 

 without bracts ; leaves very slender, numerous. This species is less beautiful 

 than the Vernal Squill. It flowers in August, and its leaves appear just as 

 the blossoms are fully expanded. These are reddish-purple, with green lines 

 down the back ; and they grow on a stem three or four inches high. It is 

 a somewhat rare plant on dry pastures at the south and west of this kingdom, 

 though plentiful on grassy places and rocks in some parts of Cornwall, and 

 also of the Isle of AVight. The species which furnishes the medicinal squills 

 is Sdlla maritiina. This plant grows on the sandy shores of France and 

 Southern Euroj)e, and was a favourite remedy with ancient physicians. 



10. Star of Bethlehem (Ornithugahm). 

 1. Spiked Star of Bethlehem (0. 2)ijrendicum). — Cluster very long; 

 flower-stalks equal, spreading, afterwards erect ; leaves all from the root. 



