140 ENGLISU BOTANY. 



3-valved. Seeds numerous, obovate-subglobose, witli a coriaceous 

 testa. 



Small herbs -ndth oblique-based corms enclosed in a stout smooth 

 chestnut envelope. Leaves mostly radical, linear, subtriquetrous, 

 simple or branched. Flowers 1 or few, sessile, terminal, often lilac or 

 pui'ple, enclosed in a 2-valved herbaceous scape. 



The name of this genus appears to be derived &om the Greek words Opi^ (genitive 

 '■p'X"-)' ^^ ' ^^^ *''7p''> ^ filament. 



SPECIES I.— TRICHONEMA COLUMN.^. Beich. 



Plate MCCCCXCII. 



Eeich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. IX. Tab. CCCLIV. Figs. 784 and 785. 



Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 1337. 



T. Bulbocodium, Sm. Engl. Fl. Vol. I. p. 48. Benth. Handbk. Brit. Bot. ed. ii. p. 466. 



Eomulea Columniu, Seh. & Maur. Pari. Fl. Ital. Vol. III. p. 253. 



Ixia Bulbocodium, Sm. Engl. Bot. ed. i. No. 2549, Excl. Syn. 



Leaves filiform, recurved, fui'rowed. Stem 1- rarely 2- or 3-flowered. 

 Spathe longer than the tube of the perianth. Stamens about as long 

 as the pistil. Stigmas 2-lobed. 



On sandy commons. Very rai'e. Dawlish Warren, near Exmouth, 

 Devon. " The exact spot is on the left of the old road from Exeter 

 to Dawhsh before ascenduig the hill to Mount Pleasant, and almost in 

 front of the small cottages there ; it extends at intervals to the ferry." 

 (Mr. John Milford, in " Magazine of Natural History," vol. vii. p. 

 272.) Not uncommon in sandy districts in Jersey and Guernsey. 



England. Perennial. Spring. 



Corm about the size of a small pea, ovate-subglobular, oblique at the 

 base as in Colchicum, but the bud in Trichonema is produced at the 

 apex; coverings of the bulb leathery, smooth, chestnut, split at the 

 apex. Leaves very slender, wiry ; 1 to 4 inches long, cylindrical, 

 slightly compressed, with a narrow furrow on the upper side. Stem 

 when m flower 1 to 3 inches long, in fruit 3 to 6 inches. Outer 

 valve of spathe about -\ inch long, herbaceous, with numerous ribs ; 

 inner valve placed higher on the pedicel, its apex reaching as high as 

 that of the outer valve, scarious, marked with elongate brown points. 

 Flowers suberect or slightly inclined. Perianth segments f inch long, 

 pale bluish-lilac with darker stripes, the outer ones tino;ed with green 

 on the back, the throat pale yellow. Stamens shorter than the peri- 

 anth segments ; anthers yellow. Fruit pedicels elongate, curved. 

 Capsule the size of a small pea. Seeds subglobose iu a coriaceous 

 chestnut testa. 



