540 



COLCHICTJM TRIBE. MEADOW SAFFRON. 



immensely prolonged (sometimes to the extent of 8 or 10 inches), 

 shooting up directly from the tuber, without being supported by 

 a flower-stalk. As the ovarium lies near the bottom of this 

 tube, whilst the stamens are situated in the expanded part of 

 the flower, the styles are necessarily very long ; and the per- 

 formance of their peculiar function under such circumstances is 

 extremely curious. The Meadow Saffron of this country is 



B termed Colchicum 



autumnale, from its 

 peculiar season ot 

 flowering, which 

 is in September 

 or October. The 

 flowers are large, 

 and of pale purple ; 

 they spring up 

 without leaves, 

 forcing themselves 

 through the soil, 

 and expanding just 

 above the surface. 

 They then wither 

 away ; but the 

 seed-vessel, being 

 then scarcely ele- 

 vated above the 

 bulb, is protected 

 beneath the ground 

 during the winter. 

 In spring, the 

 leaves are put forth, 

 and they carry up 

 with them the seed- 

 capsules, which 

 then ripen. The 

 bulb, however, is 

 formed at its base, 



i 



Fio. 193. COLCHICUM AITTUMNALE. A, Bulb with flowers; 

 B, bunch of leaves and capsules; C, ovarium and 

 styles ; D, seed-vessel cut across. 



at this time exhausted ; and a new one is 



