FRITILLABY TULIP. 291 



an eager botanist, had a piece of this Broad-leaved Garlic 

 brought to her in a glass of water to paint. Before she had been 

 engaged many minutes with her sketch she became so sick that 

 it was necessary to remove the plant, or she would have fainted. 

 It is very common in woods. This and the Chive Garlic have 

 both naked stalks ; the stem is triangular or shaped like an awl. 



The Chive Garlic (A. schcenoprasum), grows on the coast of 

 Cornwall, but Fanny did not find it. It has a round stem, and 

 a cluster of purple flowers. It is often cultivated for the sake 

 of its leaves, which make an agreeable pot-herb. 



This specimen of Fritillary comes from Oxford, where it 

 grows freely in meadows. It has a stem about a foot high, with 

 two or three grass-shaped glaucous leaves growing upon it, and 

 at the end a large drooping bell formed of six petals all dappled 

 with chocolate, and white, and green. Old Gerarde calls it 

 " the Chequered Daffodil," and describes it as having " narrow 

 grassy leaves, among which there riseth up a stalk three hands 

 high, having at the top a flower of six leaves, chequered most 

 strangely, surpassing the most curious painting that art can set 

 down" (Fritillaria meleagris). 



The Tulip is the next family in the Amaryllis order, and it is 

 a scarce plant. It is found sparingly in the vicinity of Knares- 

 borough, and I have had specimens from Suffolk, and near 

 Marlborough, in Wilts. It is a gorgeous flower of six large 

 bright yellow petals. Like our garden Tulips, it is bell-shaped 

 at first, but opens wide like a star before falling. The broad 

 glaucous leaves resemble those of the garden species. 



We now pass on to the Meadow Saffron Tribe, which consists 

 in two families, each having but one member. 



The Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale, Plate XVI.), is 

 a very pretty plant, adorning the pastures in the autumn with 

 its multitude of Crocus-like flowers. It differs from the Crocus 

 in having six stamens instead of three ; it has also six lilac 

 petals and no calyx. The seed remains concealed underground 

 during the winter, and in the spring the capsules appear, 



