Lthiacee—Camassia. 519 
Perianth 6-partite, the five upper segments closer together, the 
sixth standing by itself. The raceme is pendulous and fur- 
nished with long bracts. The bulbs are edible and largely 
collected by the Indians of Colombia. 
15. SCILLA. 
This is a very extensive genus of beautiful bulbous herbs. 
Bulbs tunicated. Leaves all radical and linear. Flowers 
racemose, usually blue, rarely purple or white. Perianth- 
segments nearly or quite free, nerve of one rib. Stamens 6, 
perigynous ; filaments not dilated. The classical name. S. 
vérna and S. autwmidlis are small species indigenous in the 
South-west of England, though very rare. The former bears 
bracteate racemes of bright blue fragrant flowers in April 
or May, and the latter bractless racemes of reddish-purple 
flowers in August or September. 
Dr. Masters has recently investigated the early Spring 
Squills, and he ranges them under three species, as follows :— 
1. 8. bifolia.—Bulb ovoid. Leaves 2 or 3, spreading, 
recurved, linear-lanceolate, channelled, terminating in a short 
blunt cylindrical poiut. Scape equalling or exceeding the 
leaves; bracts minute; pedicels spreading, lower ones longer 
than the upper ones. Flowers 5 or 6, blue; segments of the 
perianth oblong, obtuse, spreading. This includes several 
varieties differing in the colour of the flowers, as résea, alba, 
cdrnea, etc.; and S. précox is an earlier-flowering form with 
larger flowers of a deeper blue than in the type. Russia to 
Greece. 
2. S. Sibirica.— Bulb roundish. Leaves about four, flat, 
strap-shaped, slightly thickened at the point. Scape flattened, 
striated, scarcely so long as the leaves. Flowers 2 to 6, rarely 
solitary, on short pedicels, pale clear blue, more intense along 
the medial nerves of the segments. This includes the names 
cérnua, uniflora, azirea, anvenula, etc. Asia Minor, ete. 
3. 8S. ameéna.—Bulbs ovoid or roundish. Leaves nume- 
rous, spreading, strap-shaped, acute, and nearly a foot long, 
midrib prominent below. Scape erect, shorter than the leaves, 
compressed, striated, purplish upwards. Flowers 3 to 6, dark 
indigo blue, in a loose two-sided cluster. Segments of the 
perianth lanceolate, acute, midrib prominent. Filaments 
slightly dilated and whitish at the base, blue above. Ovary 
pale yellow. Central Europe and the Tyrol. 
