LILIACEi^ 285 



Distribution. — Central and Southern Europe, rare in the north, 

 but abundant locally in England and Ireland. 



Colchicum alpinum Lam. et DC. 



Resembling the last, but smaller, and the sepals are narrower. 

 The leaves are also narrower and only 2 in number instead of 3 or 4. 



Alpine meadows at about 5000-6000 feet, much less common 

 than the last, but sometimes growing with it. July, August. 



Distribution. — Valais, Tessin, Western Alps, Sicily. 



In Alpine Plants of Europe it was incorrectly stated to grow in 

 the Department of the Var and in Corsica. In Corsica it appears 

 as a still smaller variety called C. parvulum Ten. 



BULBOCODIUM L. 



Bulbocodium vernum L. 



Flowers rose-lilac, the colour of Colchicum, or rarely white, 

 appearing with the lanceolate-concave root-leaves. Perianth- 

 segments spreading, united at the throat by small scales. Stamens 

 6. I style trifid at the top. Bulb ovoid, in a brown tunic. Capsule 

 oval, acute. 



Alpine and sub-alpine pastures ; rare. April to June. 



Distribution. — Western Alps, Pyrenees, Caucasus. Very local 

 in Switzerland (Valais, Mont Vuache, etc.). 



ToFiELDiA Hudson. 



Small plants with creeping rootstocks. Leaves grass-like, 

 chiefly radical, flattened vertically, and sheathing like the leaves 

 of an Iris. Flowers small, yellow, in terminal spikes. Perianth of 6 

 segments, persistent round the capsule, which is small and 3-lobed. 

 Stamens attached to the perianth-segments. 



This small genus is chiefly North American. 



Tofieldia palusiris Huds. 



Leaves radical, linear, sword-shaped and stiff, 3-nerved ; leaf- 

 stalk without bracts at the base. Flowers small, yellowish, in a 

 spike or raceme at the end of the scape. 



Moist Alpine meadows and pastures ; 5000-9000 feet. 



Distribution. — Eastern and Central Alps, and rarely in the 

 Western Alps (Mont Cenis and Monte Viso), Northern Europe, 

 Arctic regions. British. 



Tofieldia calyculata L. (Plate XXIII.) 



Leaves longer, many-nerved. Leaf-stalk hidden by bracts at 

 the base. Stems simple, sometimes a foot high, with a spike of 

 yellowish flowers. Commoner than the last, but not attaining so 

 great an elevation. June to August. 



Distribution. — ^Alps, Jura, Pyrenees, Central Europe. 



