Allium.'] LXXXV. LILIACEjE. 467 



Spatha-bracts short. Perianth-segments oblong, not spreading. Stamens 

 ab jut half their length, all simple. 



In moist, shady places, in the Mediterranean region, from Sjjain to 

 Greece, unknown in France, except the extreme south. In Britain con- 

 fined to Cornwall and the Island of Guernsey. Fl. May and June. 



XV. SIMETHIS. SIMETHIS, 



A single species, differing from all British capsular-fruited Liliacece 

 except Narthecium in its rootstock not bulbous, and from Narthecium 

 in its panicled flowers, deciduous perianth, and few seeds. It was 

 formerly comprised in the exotic genus Anthericum, but has been 

 isolated on account of a different habit, accompanied by slight differ- 

 ences in the stamens, and the number of seeds. 



1. S. bicolor, Kunth. (fig. 1056). Variegated S. — Kootstock short, 

 with a tuft of thick fibrous roots. Leaves all radical, long, linear, and 

 grass-like. Stem leafless, usually under a foot high, branching in the 

 upper part, with a bract under each branch, the lowest bracts often 

 linear and leaf-like. Flowers erect, in a loose terminal panicle. 

 Perianth spreading, of 6 oblong segments, about 4 lines long, white 

 inside, purplish outside, especially near the tip. Stamens shorter than 

 the perianth-segments, inserted near their base, the filaments very 

 woolly. Style entire. Capsule 3-valved, with 2 shining black seeds in 

 each cell. 



On heaths and open wastes, in the extreme west of Europe, from 

 north-western Africa and Italy to Kerry, in Ireland, and formerly found 

 in plantations, near Eastbourne, in Dorsetshire, possibly introduced 

 with the seeds of the Pinaster, Fl. early summer. 



XVI. NARTHECIUM. NABTHECIUM. 



A single species, with the grass-like vertical leaves, simple racemes, 

 and persistent yellow perianth of Tofieldia, but with the bearded fila- 

 ments and simple style of Simethis, differing from both in its minute 

 seeds, with a thread-like point at each end. The consistence of the 

 perianth, firmer than in the generality of Liliacece, shows an approach 

 to Juncacece, with which many botanists associate it. 



1. N. ossifragum, Huds. (fig. 1057). Bog or Lancashire Asphodel. — 

 Rootstock shortly creeping. Stem stiff and erect, 6 inches to a foot 

 high or rarely more. Leaves shorter than the stem and near its base 

 linear, vertically flattened and sheathing at their base in 2 opposite 

 ranks as in Iridece ; the upper ones reduced to short scales. Flowers in 

 a stiff terminal raceme, of a bright yellow. Perianth-segments spread- 

 ing, lanceolate and pointed, 3 or 4 lines long, green on the back and 

 persistent as in Omithogalum. Stamens rather shorter, their filaments 

 covered with a white wool. Capsule very pointed, longer than the 

 perianth. 



In bogs, in western and central Europe, and North America, but not 

 an Arctic plant ; a rare instance of a species common to Europe and 

 North America without extending over Asia. In Britain, abundant in 

 bogs and wet moors. Fl. summer. 



