A SOUTH AMERICAN 

 ALLIUM 



Here is a plant with a nightcap; or, if 

 you prefer, a dunce cap. The pro- 

 tective covering of the flower bud has 

 burst open, but has not been discarded; 

 hence the curious effect. This is not, as 

 might be supposed, a mere accidental 

 individual peculiarity, but is character- 

 istic of the species. It might be difficult 

 to guess, however, what protective 

 function the nightcap subserves. 



