19G ENGLISU BOTANY. 



Var. 3, angustifolium. 

 O. angustifolium, Bar. 1. c. p. G25. 



Leaves very narrowly linear, " erect when young " {Boreau). 

 Flowers 3 to 5. 



In meadows, pastures, orchards, etc. Not native, but found in many 

 places in England, and a few in Scotland. Var. /3 in the Isle of 

 Wight in several places ( ?). (See Fl. Vect. p. 501.) 



[England, Scotland.] Perennial. Early Summer. 



Bulb flowering when the size of a filbert, producing a number of 

 elongate offset bulbs by which the plant increases rapidly, and thus 

 becomes readily naturalised. Leaves commonly longer than the stem, 

 at least in var. a, the tips withered by the time the flowers expand, 

 and wholly decayed before the fruit is ripe. Stem 6 inches to 1 foot 

 high. Bracts longer than the young flowers, but shorter than the 

 fruiting peduncles. Flowers in a corymb while expanded, but the 

 rachis lengthens after flowering until the corymb is converted into 

 a short raceme. Perianth leaves ^ inch long, narrowly elliptical, pure 

 white within, with a broad green stripe down the back of each of the 

 outer ones, and a narrow stripe down the back of the three inner. 

 Anthers yellowish-white. Fruit oblong-turbinate, with six furrows 

 and six prominent angles. Seeds about the size of No. 6 shot, black, 

 nearly smooth when fresh, rugose when diy. 



The flowers expand only in the forenoon, and then only when the 

 weather is fine. 



Common Star of Bethlehem. 

 French, Omithocjale en omhelle. German, Ebenstraussige Vogelmilch. 



This plant is a native of the countries round the Mediterranean, but being fre- 

 quently cultivated in gardens, has no doubt become naturalised in this country. 

 The bulbs are nutritious, and form a palatable and wholesome food when boiled. In 

 the East they are often eaten, and are roasted like chestnuts. Linnseus and other 

 botanists have imagined that this plant was the substance mentioned in 2 Kings vi. 25, 

 as having been sold at a gi-eat price during the siege of Samaria, and which our trans- 

 lators have rendered " dove's dung." There does not, however, appear to be much 

 evidence in support of this opinion ; and Bochart tells us that the Arabs give the 

 name of " dove's dung " to a kind of moss that grows on trees and stony ground, and 

 also to a sort of pulse or pea which appears to have been very common in India. 

 Large quantities of the bulbs are parched and dried, and stored in magazines at 

 Cairo and Damascus. It is much used during journeys, and especially by the great 

 pilgrim caravan to Mecca, and it may easily be supposed to have been among the pro- 

 visions stored up in the besieged city, and sold at the extravagant price mentioned, 

 about half a pint for twelve shillings and sixpence. On the other hand, Morier 

 and other travellers contend for the literal accuracy of our translation. It is the 

 Bolhlne alba, of Pliny, and is also referred to by Theophrastus, Hist. PL, and by 

 Dioscorides. 



