528 THE liILT TAMILT. 



distinguished from Squill by the more persistent perianth, without any blue 

 or pink in its colour. 



Raceme flattened into a corymb, the lower pedicels much longer than 



the upper 1. Common O. 



Racemes elongated, the pedicels of nearly equal length. 



Flowers few and large, the segments near an inch long 2. Drooping O. 



Flowers small and numeroiis, the segments about 4 lines long ... 3. Spiked O. 



1. Common Ornithog'alum. Ornithog'alum uiubellatum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 130. Star-of-BethleJietn.) 



Bulbs ovoid, full of a clammy juice, like that of the Bhiebell. Leaves 

 long and narrow, weak and flaccid. Stem from a few inelies to near a foot 

 high. Raceme flattened into a corymb, the lower pedicels being length- 

 ened so as to bring their flowers at least to the level of the inner ones. Pe- 

 rianth-segments very spreading, varying from 6 lines to near an inch in 

 length, white, with a broad, green, central line outside. 



In waste and cultivated places, in central and southern Europe, from 

 France and soutliern Scandiuavia, to the Caucasus. In Britain, not truly 

 indigenous, but established as a weed in many parts of England. Fl. 

 spring and early summer. 



2. Drooping Ornithogalum. Ornithogalum nutans, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1997.) 



A handsome species, a foot high or more, with a raceme of 5 or 6 large 

 nodding flowers on very short pedicels. Perianth-segments about an incli 

 long, less spreading than in the other species, white within, green in the 

 centre outside. Filaments very broad and petal-like. 



In waste and cultivated places, in most parts of central and southern 

 Europe, extending northwards to southern Scandinavia. In Britain, not 

 indigenous, but said to be well estabhshed in some parts of England. Fl. 

 spring. 



3. Spiked Or^ithogalum. Ornithog'alum pyrenaicum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 499.) 



Bulb ovoid, with few long, linear leaves. Stem IJ to 2 feet high, with a 

 long raceme of small, greenish- white flowers, on slender pedicels varying 

 from 3 to 6 lines in length, with a bract about as long under each one. 

 Perianth-segments very spreading, about 4 lines long. Stamens rather 

 shorter. 



In woods and pastures, in western and southern Europe, extending east- 

 ward to the Caucasus, and northward into Belgium, but only into southern 

 Germany. Rare in Britain, but has been found in several of the southern 

 counties of England. Fl. early summer. 



XL SQUII.Z.. SCILLA. 



Bulbous herbs, with radical leaves. Flowers usually blue or rarely pink, 

 in a terminal raceme, sometunes flattened into a corymb. Perianth-seg- 

 ments deciduous, free or slightly cohering at the base, either spreading or I 

 forming a beU-shaped or tubular flower, and then spreading at the top only, j 

 Stamens inserted on the perianth, below the centre of the segments. Seeds I 

 of Ornithogalum. 



