466 GALANTHUS. [class vi. order I. 



Bulb oblong, enveloped in dark brown membranous coats. Leaves 

 numerous, from one to two feet long, linear, smooth, keeled at the 

 back, the apex rounded, erect, of a bright green, enveloped at the base 

 in thin membranous sheaths. Scape simple, two-edged, as long or 

 longer than the leaves, terminating in a greenish membranous pointed 

 spatha, from the bosom of which hang drooping three or more flozvers, 

 each on a roundish slender -pedicle, thickened upwards. Perianth 

 white, of six equal ovate-lanceolate pieces, numerously veined, and 

 thickened at the apex into a greenish point, concave, united at the 

 base into a very short tube, and disposed in a bell-shaped manner. 

 Stamens inserted into the base of the perianth, and half as long. 

 Filaments short, slender. Anthers large, yellow, two celled, bursting 

 by two terminal openings. Style slender, club-shaped, obliquely 

 pointed, longer than the stamens. Capsule elliptical, obtuse, three 

 celled. Seeds several, globose, black. 



Habitat. — Moist meadows. Thames side below Greenwich, espe- 

 cially on the Kentish shore. — Mr. E. Forster. In Suffolk. — Mrs. 

 Cubbold. Berkshire, Westmoreland, Northumberland, &c. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and J une. 



This species, more frequent on the Continent than with us, is nearly 

 allied to the L. vernuin, which is found in the mountain pastures of 

 Germany, and distinguished by the scape bearing only one flower. 

 The summer snow flake is frequently cultivated in cottage gardens, 

 requiring no attention to bring it to perfection, except that of a moist 

 situation, where it increases itself by its bulbs. 



GENUS V. GALANTHUS.— Linn. Snowdrop. 



Nat. Ord. Amarylli'de^. R. Brown. 



Gen. Char. Perianth with a short tube, and a limb of six unequal 

 pieces, the three outer ones pointed and spreading, the three inner 

 half as long, erect, and emarginate. Flozvers from a spatha. — 

 Named from yaXoc, milk; and avQog, a Jloiver. 

 1. G. niva'lis, Linn. (Fig. 530.) Snowdrop. Leaves simple, linear. 

 English Botany, t. 19.— English Flora, vol. ii. p. 129.— Hooker 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 157.— Lindley, Synopsis, p. 263. 



Bulbs ovate, enveloped in loose membranous coverings. Leaves 

 about two, simple, straight, linear, obtuse, four to six inches long, of a 

 glaucous green, obtusely keeled at the back, erect, enveloped at the 

 base in a pale thin membranous sheath. Scape round, simple, at first 

 as long as the leaves, terminated by a pale tliin tubular membranous 

 spatha, from the bosom of which gracefully droops the solitary flower 

 on its slender pedicle. Flotver pure white, with numerous longitudinal 

 veins, the perianth of six pieces, the three outer ones ovate lanceolate, 

 the three inner half as long as the outer ones, obtuse notclied, and with 



