Amaryllidece Galanthus. 483 



African bulbous herb with long linear leaves and an umbellate 

 flower-scape 2 to 3 feet high. Flowers large, fragrant, white 

 tinged with rose, remarkable for their very long slender tube. 



5. GALlNTHUS. 



The Snowdrop is too well known to call for detailed 

 description. As a genus it is distinguished from Leucoium by 

 having the three inner segments of the perianth shorter than 

 the outer, and by the finely-pointed anthers opening at the top 

 only. The name is from >yd\a, milk, and avOos, flower. 



1. G. nivalis (fig. 235). Snowdrop. The only species of 

 this genus in general cultivation. It is found throughout Central 



Fig. 235. Galanthus nivalis. (J nat. size.) 



and South ern Europe to th e Caucasus. In England it is supposed 

 to be naturalized only. 



G. Imperati or plicatus is a later-flowering larger species, 

 from the South of Europe. 



G. LEUCOlUM. 



The Snowflakes are almost as familiar as the Snowdrop. 

 In this genus the segments of the perianth are almost or quite 

 equal in length, and the anthers open by slits instead of pores. 

 The name is from the Greek \SVKOS, white, and tW, a violet. 



1. L. vernum. Spring Snowflake. Plowers, as its name 

 denotes, in Spring. Scape 1 or rarely 2-flowered. 



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