424 BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS chap. 



eye. They are evidently adapted for transport by 

 birds. Only native on our western and south-western 

 shores, and the coasts of Waterford and Wexford. The 

 plant has been cultivated since Eoman times. 



Etjscus (Butcher's Broom) 



R. aculeatus. — The place of leaves is taken by flat- 

 tened branches (cladodes) which are generally twisted 

 at the base, so that the lower surface is turned upward. 

 The small white flowers are solitary ; each on the true 

 upper (actually the lower) surface of a cladode, the 

 flower stalk being adnate to it. The berries are red. 

 The flattened branches are tough, woody, and further 

 protected by running out into a fine point. It is a 

 rare plant, in copses and woods in the southern half 

 of England. 



Fritillaria (Fritillary) 



Large protogynous hanging flowers with concealed 

 nectar, which is secreted by the leaves of the perianth. 



F. Meleagris. — Flowers of a dull red, chequered with 

 more brightly coloured lines and spots. According to 

 Kerner they last 5 days. 



COLCHICUM 



This genus closely resembles Crocus, but has 6 

 stamens instead of 3, and the perianth springs from 

 below the ovary. The flowers are protogynous, with 

 concealed honey, secreted by the lower ends of the 

 free part of the staminal filaments, and protected by 

 woolly hairs. 



0. autumnale (Meadow Saflron). — The leaves appear 

 in spring, and wither before the flowers open. 



The arrangements of the flower in this species are 

 very complicated. Three of the petals are longer than 

 the others, and all elongate during the life of the 

 flower. It is hetero-styled, as in the case of Ly thrum 

 (see ante, p. 192), having three forms — long-styled, 



