PLANTS OP BERMUDA. 85 



grass-like leaves are about six inches long, and the erect flowering 

 stems equal them in length. 



In the genus N'arcissHs a cup-shaped crown arises from the throat 

 of the perianth, the six stamens being inserted within the cup. 

 Narcissus Tazetta and N. jonqiiilla are both common in the spring 

 months ; the former bears a cluster of numerous white flowers with 

 a yellow cup, and the latter one to three deep yellow fragrant 

 flowers. 



I. TANCRATIUM. 



Herbaceous 2)la)tts, leaves arising from a bulb ; perianth regular, six- 

 parted ; stamens six, their filaments united by a membranous iceb into a 

 funnel'' shaped cro wn . 



1. P. maritima. Leaves strap-shaped, smooth, leathery, eighteen 

 inches long, five-eighths of an inch wide ; flowering stem shorter 

 than the leaves, terminating in a many- flowered umbel ; perianth 

 funnel-shaped, with narrow spreading lobes ; crown adhering to the 

 perianth, membranous, twelve- toothed, stamens arising from be- 

 tween each pair of teeth, anthers slender, attached by their centre. 

 Distribution, Southern United States ; habitat, near Watford 

 bridge, plentiful. Flowers four to six inches long, white, fragrant ; 

 July to September. 



2. P. ova turn (Spider Lily). A much larger species than the 

 above, leaves oval, two feet long and three inches wide ; flowering 

 stem stout, erect, two feet high ; umbel many-flowered ; perianth 

 with a long, narrow tube, the limb divided into six slender segments 

 with wavy margins ; the long stamens are united near the base into 

 a funnel-shaped cup. Established along north shore Somerset and 

 elsewhere ; the large attenuated white flowers are also conspicuous 

 in gardens from July to September. 



X II. AGAVE, 



Large Aloe-Uke plants, with the fleshy leaves clustered around the base 

 of the stem, from the centre of tohich the erect flowering stem arises ; peri- 

 anth six-parted, tubular at the baf^e ; stamens six, protruding ; capsule 

 leathery, three-celled, many-seeded. 



K 1. -A. Americana {American Aloe, Bamboo). Stem short ; leaves 

 three to six feet long, lanceolate, smooth, fleshy at the base, leathery 

 above, with ciu'ved, spiny teeth, and more or less spinescent point ; 

 flowering stem rising fifteen to twenty-five feet, giving off alternate 

 branches and forming a pyramid- shaped panicle, on the divisions of 

 which the innumerable flowers are clustered ; tube of perianth con- 

 tracted in middle. Distribution, tropical America ; liabitat, waste 

 places, hedges and thickets, sometimes planted as a fence. Flowers 

 two inches long, greenish -yellow : formerly supposed not to flower 

 until one hundred years old. 



A variegated variety of the above, the leaves of which have a 

 broad yellow margin, is frequently planted as a garden shrub, 



