B U L 



B U P 



practice to thin them out to this distance in the 

 first beds. After this they are to be managed 

 as blowing plants. These sorts of roots blow 

 at different lengths of time after being raised, 

 some in the following year, and others not till 

 several years afterwards ; as will be explained 

 under the culture of each of the different 

 sorts. 



BULBOCODIUM, a genus containing a 

 plant of the bulbous-rooted flowering perennial 

 kind. Mountain Saffron. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexandria 

 Monogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 SpathacecB. 



The characters are: that there is no calyx: the 

 corolla hexapetalous, funnel-form: claws very 

 long, linear: throat connecting the petals: 

 border erect: petals lanceolate, concave: the 

 stamina consist of six subulate filaments, in- 

 serted into the claws of the petals: the anthers 

 are incumbent : the pistillum is an ovate-subu- 

 late germ, obtusely three-cornered, and supe- 

 rior: the style is filiform, the length of the 

 stamens: the stigmas three, oblong, erect and 

 channelled: the pericarpium is a triangular, 

 acuminate capsule, angles obscure, and three- 

 celled : the seeds are numerous. 



There is only one species cultivated for orna- 

 ment, B. vernum, Spring-flowering Bulboco- 

 dium. 



In this the bulb or root resembles that of 

 common colchicum in shape, but is much 

 smaller; it is covered with a dark-brown skin. 

 In January, or before the middle of the follow- 

 ing month, the flower springs up inclosed within 

 three brownish-green leaves, which opening 

 themselves as soon almost as they are out of the 

 ground, show their buds for flowers within 

 them very white oftentimes, before they open 

 far, and sometimes also purplish at first ap- 

 pearing. There is frequently only one flower, 

 but never more than two flowers on a root ; 

 they never rise above the leaves, or the leaves 

 much higher than them, whilst they last; they 

 are smaller than those of colchicum; at first 

 are of a pale red or deep blush colour, but 

 afterwards change to a bright purple, and con- 

 tinue long in beauty, if the weather be not 

 severe. After the flowers are past, the leaves 

 grow to the length of four or five inches, and 

 in the middle of them the seed-vessel rises up. 



It has the habit of colchicum, but differs in 

 having only one style: from the crocus, which it 

 much resembles, it is also distinguished by the 

 number of its stamens. It is a native of 

 Spain, &c. 



Culture. — This maybe increased by off-sets re- 

 moved at the time when the flower and leaf decay, 



every second or third year; also by sowing the 

 seed in pots filled with loamy earth, in autumn, 

 sheltering them in a frame from frost during 

 the winter: the plants appear in spring, which, 

 on the decay of the leaves, should be taken 

 up for planting in the borders in the follow- 

 ing autumn, where they flower the year follow- 

 ing. 



When the roots are not frequently taken up, 

 they flower much stronger, and produce a 

 greater increase than when treated in the con- 

 trary manner. 



The plants should have a warm situation, 

 and fresh soil that has not been improved by 

 manure. 



They afford an agreeable variety in beds, 

 borders, and clumps, of pleasure- and other 

 .grounds. 



BUPHTHALMUM, a genus comprehend- 

 ing plants of the herbaceous and shrubby kinds. 

 The Ox-eye. 



It belongs to the class and order Syngenesia 

 Polygamia Superfine, and ranks in the natural 

 order of Compnshce. 



The characters are : that the calyx is common 

 various in the different species, imbricate: the 

 corolla is compound radiated : corollules herma- 

 phrodite, numerous, forming a flat disk: fe- 

 males more than ten in the ray. Proper of the 

 hermaphrodite funnel-form, with a five-cleft, 

 patulous border. Of the female ligulate, longer, 

 spreading, three-toothed: the stamina (of the 

 hermaphrodite) consist of rive capillary, very 

 short filaments: the anthers are tubular and 

 cylindric: the pistillum (of the hermaphrodite) 

 is an ovate, compressed germ: the style is fili- 

 form, the length of the stamens: the stigma 

 thickish and simple. Of the female, the germ 

 aneipital : style filiform, of the same length as 

 in the hermaphrodite: the stigmas two, and 

 oblong: no pericarpium : the calyx unchanged : 

 the seeds of the hermaphrodite solitary, oblong, 

 crowned with a gashed manifold edge. Of the 

 females, solitary, compressed, with each edge 

 cutting, crowned like the others: the. receptacle 

 is chaffy and convex. 



The species are; 1. B. helianthoides, Sun- 

 flower-leaved Ox-eye; 2. B. salicifolium, Wil- 

 low-leaved Ox-eye; 3. B. grandljlornm, Great- 

 flowered Ox-eye; 4. B. maritimum, Sea Ox-eye ; 

 5. B.frutescens, Shrubby Ox-eye; Q.B.arbo- 

 rescens, Tree Ox-eye. 



The first has a perennial root, branched, 

 whitish, and fragrant. The stems are annual, 

 several, upright, branched at top, naked at the 

 base, round, the thickness of a quill, red with 

 a sea-green bloom, pithy and jointed as it were 

 with a ring of petioles : the twigs opposite, and 



