454 THE AMAHYLLIS FAMILY. [Galanthus. 



Leaves 2 or rarely 3, narrow-linear, short at the time of flowering, but 

 lengthening considerably afterwards. Stem 6 inches to near a foot 

 high, with a single drooping, sweet-scented flower, shortly pedicellate 

 above the terminal bract or spatha. Perianth-segments quite distinct 

 down to the ovary, the 3 outer ones pure white, oblong, about 8 or 9 

 lines long, the 3 inner about half that length, and usually tipped with 

 green. 



In woods and shady pastures, in central and southern Europe, extend- 

 ing eastwards to the Caucasus and northward into Holland. In Britain, 

 probably not indigenous, but long cultivated, and now naturalised in 

 England, Scotland, and Ireland. Fl. early spring. 



III. LEUCOIUM. SNOWFLAKE. 



Flowers solitary or several together, from a terminal spatha. Perianth- 

 segments 6, nearly equal, distinct down to the ovary or slightly cohering 

 at the base. Anthers obtuse, opening in longitudinal slits. 



A genus of very few species, chiefly south European, and distributed 

 by some garden botanists into almost as many genera. 



1. L. eestivum, Linn. (fig. 1027). Summer S. — Bulb larger than 

 that of the Snowdrop. Leaves few, a foot long or more, like those of a 

 Narcissus. Stem 1 to 1J feet high, with a terminal cluster of 2 to 6 

 broadly bell-shaped flowers, on pedicels from 1 to 2 inches in length, 

 arising from a sheathing entire bract or spatha. Perianth-segments 

 ovate, about 6 lines long, of a pure white, with a short, sometimes 

 greenish tip. 



In meadows, in central and southern Europe, extending eastward 

 to the Caucasus, and northward rather farther than the Snowdrop. 

 Considered indigenous in several of the south-eastern counties of 

 England. Fl. spring, rather late. [The Spring Snowjlake (L. vernum, 

 Linn.), a common Continental plant, smaller than the Summer S., with 

 a bifid spatha, is naturalised in Dorsetshire.] 



LXXXIV. DIOSOORIDE^. THE YAM FAMILY. 



Climbing plants, with tuberous or woody rootstocks, alternate 

 leaves with netted veins between the ribs, and small unisexual 

 flowers. Perianth of 6 divisions. Stamens in the males 6. 

 Ovary in the females inferior, 3- celled, with 1 to 3 ovules in 

 each cell. Styles or stigmas 3. Seeds with a minute embryo 

 in a hard albumen. 



An Order consisting of but very few genera, but with a considerable 

 number of species, dispersed over the warmer regions of the globe. 

 They include the cultivated Yam, and several South African and 

 Mexican plants grown in our greenhouses as curiosities on account 

 of their massive woody rootstocks, contrasted with the slender, climb- 

 ing annual stems. 



