ICG ENGLISH BOTANY. 



the examples of tlie confiiiontal plant I have in cultivation the leaves are 

 quite short at the time of flowering ; in both cases attaining ultimately 

 a length of from 9 inches to 1 foot or more, by f to | inch broad. 

 Scape subancipitate, furnished with two sharj)ly ])rominent lines, 3 to 6 

 inches high Avhen in flower. Spathe 2-lobed at the apex, with an 

 herbaceous strip running down from each lobe, showing that the spathe 

 is composed of 2 leaves united nearly to their apex on the back. 

 Flower almost always solitary, and apparently never more than 2. 

 Perianth more bellshaped than in L. festivum; segments about 1 inch 

 long, rhombic-oval, abruptly acuminated into a minute point, the 3 

 outer ones broader, white with parallel concolorous veins, and a green 

 spot immediately below the apex. Anthers yellow, subapicidate. Style 

 white, with a green ring near the apex. Scape lying on the ground 

 when in fruit. Fruit herbaceous, oblong-turbinate, about the size of a 

 sloe. Seeds with a soft whitish testa, remarkable for the great en- 

 largement at the chalaza. 



1 am indebted to Mr. I. C. Mansel for living specimens of the 

 Dorsetshire plant. 



Spring Snoicflake. 



French, Niveole dw printemps. German, FrvMings-Knotenbliime. 



This plant grows very abundantly in some meadows, so much so as to overpower 

 the grass in spring ; but no cattle will eat it. It is pretty and easily propagated, 

 and does well to enliven the borders of shrubberies. 



GENUS in.- GALANTHUS. Lhm. 



Perianth coloured, petaloid, regular; tube not prolonged beyond 

 the ovary ; limb funnelshaped, of 6 divisions free to the base ; the 3 

 exterior segments oblanceolate-clliptical, concave, entire, or somewhat 

 spreading ; the 3 interior only half the length of the outer ones, erect, 

 wedgeshaped, truncate and notched at the apex. Crown absent. 

 Stamens 6, inserted on the epigynous disk of the ovary; filaments 

 very short; anthers connivent, subaristate, opening by 2 terminal 

 pores. Ovary adhering to the tube of the perianth, ovoid, green ; 

 style subulate-filiform ; stigma undivided. Capsule ovoid, herbaceous, 

 loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds few, subglobular, with a soft white 

 membranous testa. 



Herbs with tunicated bulbs and 2 or 3 linear-lorate glaucous leaves. 

 Scape compressed. Spathe membranous, with 2 herbaceous lines. 

 Flower solitary, pedicellate, pendulous ; inner segments with a green 

 horseshoe mark outside, and green stripes inside. 



The name of this genus is derived from the Greek words, yoKa, milk, and aidugf 

 a flower, descriptive of its milky whiteness. 



