LILIES. BULBS. 95 



countries. The colours, too, in tropical flowers, 

 particularly those of Asia, are much richer and 

 more variegated than in those of cold climates, 

 which are principally white and blue. 



EDWARD. 



What is the meaning of Tropical? 



MOTHER. 



It is a term used in geography, which you will 

 find explained in books on that subject. The 

 space that lies between what are called the Tropics 

 is more directly under the influence of the sun, and 

 much warmer than any other part of the globe. 

 But I used the words Tropical plants only to sig- 

 nify those which grow in the warmest climates of 

 the world. 



I must not omit the Lil'ium, a genus which be- 

 longs to the sixth class, and one of the most im- 

 portant in a very numerous tribe, which bears the 

 general name of Lilies. The flowers of this genus 

 are very beautiful, being shaped like a bell, and 

 composed of six petals, generally of the most 

 brilliant colours. The roots are round, fleshy, 

 Bulbs ; a sort of root of which there are several 

 different kinds, and of which the Crocus and Snow- 

 drop afford good examples. [PLATES 5. and 9.] 

 In the tulip the bulb is solid, hard, and smooth: in 

 the lily it is scaly, something like the skin of a fish, 



