Scilla.] LXXXV. LILIACEA 463 



ing at the top only. Stamens inserted on the perianth, below the centre 

 of the segments. Seeds of Omithogalum. 



A considerable genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean and Caucasian 

 regions, distinguished from Omithogalum chiefly by the colour of the 

 flowers and deciduous perianth, from Hyacinthus by the segments dis- 

 tinct from the base or very nearly so. 



Flowers erect, the perianth-segments spreading. 



Flowers in spring, with a bract under each pedicel . . . 1. S- verna. 



Flowers in autumn, without bracts 2. S. autumnalis. 



Flowers nodding, narrow bell-shaped 3. S. nutans. 



Two or three Mediterranean species, with corymbose racemes of 

 bright-blue flowers, are cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



1. S. verna, Huds. (fig. 1044). Spring S. — A delicate little plant, 

 with a small bulb, and narrow-linear leaves, 2 to 4 inches long. Flower- 

 stem seldom 6 inches long, with several small, erect blue flowers, in a 

 short terminal raceme, almost flattened into a corymb, with a linear 

 bract under each pedicel. Perianth -segments scarcely above 3 lines 

 long, spreading, but not so much so as in Omithogalum. Stamens 

 inserted close to their base. 



In stony and sandy wastes, and pastures, especially near the sea, in 

 western Europe, reappearing farther east in Denmark, on the Rhine, 

 and in Sardinia. In Britain, it occurs at intervals, but in abundance 

 on the east coast of Ireland, the western and northern coasts of Great 

 Britain, the east of Scotland, and very locally in north-eastern England. 

 Fl. spring. 



2. S. autumnalis, Linn. (fig. 1045). Autumnal S. — Bulb rather 

 larger than in S. verna. Flower-stems 6 to 9 inches high, or more when 

 very luxuriant, appearing after the leaves have withered away. Flowers 

 small, erect, of a pale violet-blue, or somewhat pink, in a raceme short 

 at first, but which will lengthen out to 2 or even 3 inches, all the pedi- 

 cels remaining of the same length, and without bracts. As the flower- 

 ing advances, a tuft of leaves, similar to those of S. verna, shoots out 

 by the side of the stem for the following year. 



In rocky wastes of southern Europe, from Spain to the Caucasus, 

 extending northward into central France, and up the western coast to 

 the English Channel, reappearing on the Bhine. In Britain, confined 

 to some of the southern counties of England, Fl. autumn. 



3. S. nutans, Sm. (fig. 1046). Bluebell.— Bulb white, full of a 

 clammy juice. Leaves linear, shorter than the flower-stem, 4 or 5 lines 

 broad. Stem about a foot high, angular, with a terminal, one-sided 

 raceme of drooping blue flowers, each with a small narrow bract at the 

 base of the pedicel. Perianth about 6 lines long, almost tubular, the 

 segments spreading at the top only, although distinct, or very shortly 

 united at the very base. Stamens inserted above the base of the seg- 

 ments, but below the middle. Hyacinthus nonscriptus, Linn. 



In woods, hedges, and shady places, in western Europe, from Spain 

 to Britain, extending eastward only into central France, and here and 

 there along the Mediterranean to Italy. Very abundant in Britain. 

 Fl. spring. Originally placed in the genus Hyacinthus, on account of 

 the general form of the perianth, it was removed to Scilla as having the 

 segments distinct or nearly so, and is now often considered as forming 



