286 



PETALOIDE^ 



dry capsules, containing black, shining seeds. Sea-coast in the 

 west and north of England. — Fl. May. Perennial. 



S. mitumnalis (Autumnal Squill). Flowers in an erect cluster; 

 bracts o ; leaves appearing after the flowers. Biilh somewhat larger 

 than in the last, and stems rather taller ; flowers of a purplish blue 

 and less beautiful than in the last. Dry pastures, especially near 

 the sea, in the south, — Fl, August to October. Perennial. 



3. 5. nutans (Wild Hyacinth, Blue-bell). — Too abundant and 

 well known to need any description. The name Hyacinthus was 

 originally given to some species of Lily into which the youth 

 Hyacinthus was fabled to have been changed by Apollo. The 

 petals are marked with dark spots, arranged so as to resemble the 

 Greek word AI — alas ! The present species, however, having no 

 such characters on its petals, was named by Linnaeus non-scriptus 

 — not written. It is sometimes, though incorrectly, called Hair- 

 bell, the true Hair-bell being Campanula rotimdifolia, or Blue-bell 

 of Scotland. Woods and hedges. — Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



Ornithogalum 



Pyrenaicum 



(Spiked Star of 



Bethlehem) 



7. Ornithogalum {Star of Bethlehem) 



1. 0. Pyrenaicum (Spiked Star of Bethlehem). 

 — A bulbous plant, with long, narrow leaves, 

 which wither very early in the season, and a 

 leafless stalk, about 2 feet high, bearing a long, 

 erect, spiked cluster of small, greenish-white 

 flowers. Woods in the south ; rare, but very 

 abundant in the neighbourhood of Bath, where 

 the spikes of unexpanded flowers are often 

 exposed for sale as a pot-herb under the name 

 of " French Asparagus." 



2. 0. umbellatum (Common Star of Bethlehem). 

 — Grows about a foot Mgh, with narrow limp 

 leaves, and large, pure white flowers, which are 

 green externally, and are borne in flattened 

 racemes, or rather corymbs, opening only in 

 sunny weather. A common garden plant, natural- 

 ized in occasional waste places. — Fl. April, May. 

 Perennial. 



3. 0. nutans (Drooping Star of Bethlehem). — 

 About a foot high, with a raceme of 5 or 6 large, 

 drooping flowers, white, and partially green out- 

 side. Not indigenous, but rarely found naturalized. — Fl. Aprfl, 

 May. Perennial. 



