288 



PETALOIDE.E 



in the east and south of England ; rare. Fl. April. Perennial 

 A white form is not uncommon. 



Several species are cultivated in garden flower borders, perhaps 

 the handsomest being the well-known Crown Imperial. 



12. Tulipa [Tulip) 



i. T. sylvestris (Wild Tulip). The only British species. A 

 bulbous plant, with very narrow leaves ; stem about a foot high ; 

 flower solitary, yellow, fragrant, drooping in bud, becoming more 

 erect with expansion. South and east ; rare. Fl. April, May. 

 Perennial. 



13. Gagea 



1. G. lutea (Yellow Gagea). The only British species. A bulbous 

 plant, 6-8 inches high, with 1 or 2 long, narrow leaves, and umbels 

 of yellow flowers. Woods and pastures ; rare. Fl. March to May. 

 Perennial. 



14. Lloydia (Lloydia) 



1. L. serotina (Mountain Lloydia). A pretty plant, with several 

 very slender leaves, and a slender stem, 2-6 inches high, bearing a 

 solitary white flower, veined with red. Snowdon ; rare. Fl. June, 

 July. Perennial. 



15. Colchicum {Meadow Saffron) 



1. C. autumnale (Meadow Saffron). The 

 only British species. A not unfrequent 

 garden plant, with large broad leaves, 

 which wither away in summer, and are 

 succeeded by several light purple, or some- 

 times white flowers, resembling Crocuses in 

 all respects except that they have 6 instead 

 of 3 stamens. At the time of flowering the 

 seed-vessels are concealed beneath the ground, 

 where they remain until the following spring, 

 when they rise above the surface and are 

 ripened. Meadows ; not general. Fl. Sep- 

 tember, October. Perennial. 



16. Tofieldia (Scottish Asphodel) 

 Colchicum Autumnale 



(Meadow Saffron) 1. T. paluslris (Mountain Scottish Aspho- 



del). The only British species. A small 

 plant, 4-6 inches high, with tufts of narrow, sword-shaped leaves, 

 and egg-shaped, almost stalkless spikes of small, yellowish flowers. 

 Boggy ground in the north. Fl. July, August. Perennial. 



