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three or four, sometimes five or six, grass-like, distantly alternate, 

 half embracing, round on the under, and hollow on the upper side, 

 somewhat twisted and glaucous: the flower usually single, sometimes 

 two, or even three, on the top of the stem, Jarge, pendulous, at first 

 somewhat pyramidal, but afterwards bell-shaped, chequered with 

 purple and white, or purple and greenish yellow. It is a native of 

 the southern countries of Europe, flowering in April and May. 



There are numerous varieties; the chief are, the Common Pur- 

 ple, the Blood Red, the Great Purple or Red, the White, the Double 

 Blush, the Pure Yellow, the Chequered Yellow, the Great Yellow 

 Italian, the Small Italian, the Small Portugal Yellow, the Black, 

 and the Spanish Black. 



The second species has a double fleshy bulbous root: the leaves 

 are broader, and of a deeper green than in the first; the lower leaves 

 are opposite, but those above alternate: the stem a foot and half 

 high, terminated by two flowers of an obscure yellow colour, and 

 spreading more at the brim than those of the first sort, but turned 

 downwards in the same manner. It flowers three weeks after it; and 

 is a native of France. 



The third has a large round scaly root of a yellow colour, and a 

 strong foxy odour: the stalk rises to the height of four feet or up- 

 wards: it is strong, succulent, and garnished two-thirds of the length 

 on every side with long narrow leaves ending in points, which are 

 smooth and entire: the upper part of the stalk is naked, a foot in 

 length : the flowers come out all round the stalk upon short foot- 

 stalks, which turn downward, each sustaining one large flower. 

 Above these rises a spreading tuft of green leaves, which are erect, 

 and called the Coma. It flowers the beginning of April, and the 

 seeds ripen in July. 



The chief varieties are; those with yellow flowers, with large 

 flowers; and with double flowers; but that which has two or three 

 whorls of flowers above each other makes the finest appearance, 

 though it seldom produces its flowers after this manner the first year 

 after removing. 



The fourth species has a large round root : the stem three feet 



