452 THE IRIS FAMILY. [Crocus. 



Flowers in spring, with the leaves. Stigmas wedge-shaped, and 



slightly jagged 1. C. vernus. 



Flowers in autumn, without leaves. Stigmas cut into a many- 



lobed fringe 2. C, nudiflorus. 



1. 0. vernus, All. (fig. 1022). Spring or Purple C. — Leaves enclosed 

 at the base in a tube of 2 or 3 thin, scarious sheathing scales. Flowers 

 solitary within the leaves, of a bluish-purple ; the ovary sessile on the 

 bulb, the long tube enclosed at the base in a sheath similar to that of 

 the leaves. Stigmas of a rich orange, dilated at the top, and slightly 

 jagged, but not deeply fringed. 



In meadows, in the hilly districts of central and southern Europe, 

 not farther north than central France. In Britain, naturalised in 

 meadows of Nottingham, Suffolk, and Middlesex. Fl. early spring. 



2. C. nudiflorus, Sm. (fig. 1023). Autumnal O. — Flowers rather 

 larger than in 0. vernus, appearing after the leaves of the year have 

 withered, and before those of the following year have developed. They 

 somewhat resemble the flowers of Colchicum autumnale, but are readily 

 distinguished by the 3, not 6, stamens. Tube very long, enclosed half- 

 way up in the sheathing scales. Stigmas deeply cut into an elegant 

 orange fringe or tassel. 



In meadows and pastures, in south-western Europe, but not nearer to 

 us than south-western France. Naturalised in the meadows of several 

 of the midland counties. Fl, autumn. 



LXXXIII. AMARYLLIDE^. THE AMARYLLIS 

 FAMILY. 



Rootstock bulbous, except in a very few exotic genera. 

 Leaves radical and parallel-veined. Perianth petal-like, with 

 6 segments. Stamens 6, the anthers turned inwards. Ovary 

 inferior or adherent to the perianth-tube, 3-celled. Fruit a 

 capsule, with several seeds, opening in 3 valves. 



A large Order, widely distributed over the globe, chiefly in dry, sunny 

 countries ; differing from the Lily family in the inferior ovary, from the 

 Iris family in the 8 stamens. 



Perianth tubular at the base, the limb spreading, with a cup- 

 shaped or tubular crown at the mouth of the tube . . 1. Narcissus. 

 Perianth divided to the ovary, without any crown. 



Three outer perianth-segments larger than the inner ones . 2. Galanthus. 



Perianth-segments all equal . 3. Leucoium. 



Many of the most showy exotic bulbous plants grown in our gardens 

 and planthouses belong to this family, including the genera Amaryllis, 

 Alstrosmeria, Crinum, Nerine sarniensis (called Guernsey Lily, from an 

 erroneous impression that it was a native of Guernsey), and others, 

 besides the gigantic Agave americana, commonly called Aloe, but not a 

 congener of the true Aloes of botanists, which are Liliaceous plants. 



