MEADOW SAWRO^.—Co/r/iiann 

 autumnale, 



C7a55 Hexandria. OfZ<?r Trtgynia. Nat. Ore/. Mri.anthack.r. 

 Meadow Saffron Tribe. 



To look upon this handsome flower as it ex- 

 pands among the meadow grasses, during the 

 months of September and October, one would 

 deem it a leafless plant. Yet that same root 

 will, next spring, produce both leaves and fruit, 

 though the blossom opens only to the autunuinl 

 season. The flowers of the Meadow SailVon 

 are of a pretty delicate lilac hue, from two to 

 six in number, emerging from a sheath, which 

 issues from the solid bulb. TJiey are exact I3 

 like those of the Crocus, except that they 

 have six, instead of three stamens. Tliey 

 rise on long slender tubes, and dying away 

 at the end of October, exhibit no signs of 

 seed vessels or seeds. But the seeds lie buried 

 in the bulb during winter, and when s[)ring 

 is again decking mead and bough, then the 

 broad green leaves arise from the bulb, and the 

 seeds, elevated on a footstalk, gradually increjisc 

 in size and ripen by Midsummer. As has been 

 remarked, this is a beautiful and providential 



