101 



the cuttings emit roots in the spring; water being freely given in 

 summer, and shelter again in winter. In the spring following they 

 should be planted out in a sheltered place in the nursery, to attain 

 proper growth for the shrubbery quarters. 



The first affords an ornamental effect in the fronts of cliimps and 

 other parts- of shrubberies, and the others in assemblage wilh other 

 potted plants of similar growth. 



2. BULBOCODIUM VERNUM. 



SPRING BULBOCODIUM. 



THIS genus contains a plant of the bulbous-rooted flowering pe- 

 rennial kind. Mountain Saffron. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexandria Monogynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order of Spathacece. 



The characters are: that there is no calyx: the corolla hexapeta- 

 lous, funnel-form: claws very long, linear: throat connecting the 

 petals: border erect: petals lanceolate, concave: the stamina con- 

 sist of six subulate filaments, inserted into the claws of the petals: 

 the anthers are incumbent: the pistillum is an ovate subulate germ, 

 obtusely three-cornered, and superior: the style is filiform, the length 

 of the stamens: the stigmas three, oblong, erect and channelled: the 

 pericarpiurn is a triangular, acuminate capsule, angles obscure, and 

 three-celled : the seeds are numerous. 



There is only one species cultivated for ornament, B, vernitm, 

 Spring-flowering Bulbocodium. 



In this the bulb or root resembles that of common colchicum in 

 shape, but is much smaller; it is covered with a dark-brown skin. 

 In January, or before the middle of the following month, the flower 

 springs up inclosed within three brownish-green leaves, which open- 

 ing themselves as soon almost as they are out of the ground, show 

 their buds for flowers within them very white oftentimes, before ihey 



