420 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS chap. 



MUSCARI 



Bee flowers ; the tissues at the base of the flower 

 containing a sweet juice. Flowers in a spike ; those at 

 the apex sometimes only for show. Perianth contracted 

 at the mouth, with 6 lobes. 



M. racemosum has dark violet protogynous flowers. 

 It occurs in sandy fields in some of the eastern counties. 



Allium (Onion) 



Flowers in a terminal head or umbel, with con- 

 cealed nectar surrounded by a spathe of 2 or 3 bracts. 

 Perianth of 6 segments. Stamens, 6, in two sets of 3. 

 It is a genus with many species, of which eight are 

 British. 



A. tirsinum. — The flower is snowy white and pro- 

 tandrous. The anthers of the 3 inner stamens open 

 before those of the outer ones. During this time the 

 pistil lengthens from 2-3 mm. to 6 mm. and the 

 stigmas ripen. Finally, in the absence of insect visits, 

 the stigmas touch the anthers, and the flower fertilises 

 itself The visitors are principally bees, humble bees, 

 and flies. The leaves are reversed, so that the morpho- 

 logically upper side is turned downwards, and develops 

 stomata. 



Scott Elliot in his Nature Studies gives an 

 interesting account of this species. The seed begins 

 to develop on the surface of the earth, but as soon 

 as germination begins the growing embryo becomes 

 buried in the soil through a peculiar elongation of the 

 stalk of the cotyledon, which carries plumule and radicle 

 to a depth of 3-4 mm. Its subsequent yearly history 

 is as follows : — " In April a circle of peculiar fleshy roots 

 is formed ; they grow obliquely downwards, and when 

 they are firmly fixed by root hairs at their ends, they 

 contract, losing about 30 per cent of their original 

 length ; in so doing they draw the bulb downwards 

 into the soil. From May to July the green leaves 

 perform their work, and the flowers and fruit are 



