512 



terminal membrane, splitting lengthwise, except in U(c- 

 manthus, where it divides into six segments, resembling 

 an involucrum, and is permanent. The spatha sometimes 

 contains many flowers, and where it naturally bears but 

 one, is liable occasionally to produce more. The flowers 

 are stalked within the spatha; in most instances they are 

 superior, but not in Bu/bocodium, whose corolla is divided 

 to the very base. This plant therefore has erroneously 

 been referred to Colchicum. Tulbaghia has a perfectly 

 inferior flower, but cannot be referred to Hyaciuthus, on 

 account of its many-flowered spatha.'" (The nectary, or 

 crown of the tube, abundantly distinguishes it.) "Al- 

 lium has invariably an inferior flower, but its spatha shows 

 that it belongs to the order before us. Some of its spe- 

 cies bear flowers as big as a Narcissus." 



• The corolla in most of the genera is monopetalous, 

 inasmuch as the nectariferous tube bears the petals. 

 Otherwise they might all be denominated hexapetalous, 

 except Colchicum and Criuum; to say nothing of Gelhyllis, 

 distinguished from all the rest by its very long tube. Sta- 

 mens six, except in the genus last mentioned, where they 

 are twice that number. Pistil one, except Colchicum; but 

 many have a three-cleft stigma, so that in Colchicum this 

 part may be considered as only further divided even down 

 to the germen. Capsule in all of three cells, with many 

 seeds." (Hcemanthus has a berry.) 



" The roots of this tribe grow best if they are dried 

 after the leaves perish, either artificially, or by the arid 

 nature of their place of growth. Many of these roots are 

 nauseous and acrid, therefore poisonous, especially Col- 

 chicum. The bulb of a Narcissus will kill a dog. No 

 analogy holds good between these plants and the Tulip, 

 whose bulb may be eaten with impunity ; because they 

 are not of the same natural order. All the species of Al- 

 lium are impregnated with their own peculiar pungent 

 flavour, and nature being disposed to expel them with 

 violence from the stomach, they prove most powerful su- 



