LILIACS^. 52^ 



A considerable genus, chiefly from the Mediten-anean and Caucasian 

 regions, distinguished from Orniihogalum chiefly by the colour of the 

 flowers and deciduous perianth, from Hyacinth by the segments distinct 

 from the base or very nearly so. 



riowers erect, the perianth- segments spreading. 



Flowers in spring, with a bract under each pedicel 1. Spring S. 



Flowers in autumn, without bracts 3. Autumn S. 



Flowers nodding, narrow bell-shaped 3. Bluebell S. 



Two or three Mediterranean species, with corymbose racemes of bright- 

 blue flowers, are frequently cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



1. Spring Squill. Scilla verna, Huds. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 23.) 



A delicate httle plant, with a small bulb, and narrow-linear leaves, 2 to 

 4 inches long. Flower-stem seldom 6 inches long, with several small, erect, 

 blue flowers, in a short terminal raceme, almost flattened into a corymb, 

 with a Unear bract under each pedicel. Perianth-segments scarcely above 

 3 lines long, spreading, but not so much so as in Ornithogalum. Stamens 

 inserted close to their base. 



In stony and sandy wastes, and pastures, especially near the sea, in 

 western Europe, reappearing further east in Denmark, on the Rhine, and in 

 Sardinia. In Britain, it occurs at intei-vals, but in abundance on the east 

 const of Ireland, the western and northern coasts of Great Britain, the east 

 of Scotland, and very locally in north-eastern England. Fl. spring. 



2. Autumn Squill. Scilla autumnalis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 78.) 



Bulb rather larger than in the spring S. Flower-stems 6 to 9 inches 

 higli, or more when very luxuriant, appearing after the leaves have withered 

 away. Flowers small, erect, of a pale violet-blue, or somewhat pink, in a 

 raceme short at first, but which will lengthen out to 2 or even 3 inches, all 

 the pedicels remaining of the same length, and without bracts. As the 

 flowering advances, a tuft of leaves, similar to those of the spring S., shoots 

 out by the side of the stem for the foUowing year. 



In rocky wastes of southern Europe, from Spain to the Caucasus, extend- 

 ing northward into central France, and up the western coast to the Enghsh 

 Channel, reappearing on the Rhine. In Britain, confined to some of the 

 southern coimties of England. Fl. autumn. 



3. Bluebell Squill. Scilla nutans, Sm. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 377. Agraphis, Brit. Fl. Endymion, Bab. Man. Bluebell.) 



Bulb white, full of a clammy juice. Leaves linear, shorter than the flower- 

 stem, 4 or 5 hues broad. Stem about a foot high, angular, with a terminal, 

 one-sided raceme of drooping blue flowers, each with a small narrow bract 

 at the base of the pedicel. Perianth about 6 lines long, almost tubular, the 

 segments spreading at the top only, although distinct, or very shortly united 

 at the very base. Stamens inserted above the base of the segments, but 

 below the middle. 



In woods, hedges, and shady places, in western Europe, from Spain to 

 Britain, extending eastward only into central France, and here and there 

 along the Mediterranean to Italy. Very abundant in Britain. Fl. spring. 

 Originally placed in the genus Hyacinth, on account of the general form of 



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