LILY TRIBE 



285 



POLYGONATUM MULTIFLORUM 



(Solomon's Seal) 



4. Polygonatum (Solomon's 

 Seal) 



1. P. midtiflorum (Com- 

 mon Solomon's Seal). A 

 singular plant, 1-2 feet high, 

 with roundish stems, which 

 are rather arching than erect, 

 and bearing numerous alter- 

 nate, elliptical leaves, all 

 turned one way, and opposite 

 them are small clusters of 

 whitish drooping flowers, 

 tipped with green, which are all turned the other way ; filaments 

 hairy. Woods in several parts of England and Scotland, but not 

 indigenous in the latter country, and not frequent. Fl. June. 

 Perennial. 



2. P. officinale (Angular Solomon's Seal) differs from the last 

 species in having an angular stem of lower stature, mostly solitary 

 flowers, and smooth filaments. Rare. 



3. P. verticillatum (Whorled Solomon's Seal). Grows about 

 2 feet high, and bears its leaves in whorls of 3-5, from the axils of 

 which hang several white, green-tipped flowers. Rare. 



5. Maianthemum (May Lily) 



1. M. convallaria (May Lily). A pretty plant with a creeping 

 root stock, and an erect stem 4-9 inches high. 

 Leaves 2, alternate, acute, heart-shaped, 

 stalked ; flowers small and white, in a 

 terminal raceme ; perianth 4-cleft. A very 

 rare plant, said to be truly wild not far 

 from Scarborough, and planted elsewhere. 

 Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



6. SciLLA (Squill) 



1. S. vema (Vernal Squill). Flowers in 

 a corymb ; bracts narrow ; leaves lined, 

 appearing with the flowers. A lovely little 

 plant, 3-6 inches high, with corymbs, or 

 flat clusters of blue, star-like flowers. The 

 turfy slopes of the sea-coast of Cornwall are 

 in many places as thickly studded with 

 these pretty flowers as inland meadows are 

 with Daisies. In a few weeks after flower- 

 ing no part of the plant is visible but the 



Scilla Vkrna 



( Vernal SquilT) 



