Galanthus.| - LXXXII, AMARYLLIDER. 453 
small. 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 8 inner about half that length, and usually tipped with 
reen. 
. In woods and shady pastures, in central and southern Europe, extending 
eastward to the Caucasus and northward into Holland. In Britain, pro- 
bably not indigenous, but long cultivated, and now naturalized in England, 
Scotland, and Ireland. 7, early spring. 
Ill. 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. G. estivum, Linn. (fig. 1025). Summer Snowflake.—Bulb larger 
than that of the Snowdrop, Leaves few, a foot long or more, like those 
of a Narcissus. Stem 1 to 13 feet high, with a terminal cluster of 2 to 6 
broadly bell-shaped flowers, on pedicels varying 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 further than the Snowdrop. Con- 
sidered indigenous in several of the south-eastern counties of England. 
Fl. spring, rather late. [The Spring Snowflake (L. vernum, Linn.), a 
common continental plant, smaller than the Summer §,, with a bifid spatha, 
is said to be naturalized in Dorsetshire. ] 
LXXXIV. DIOSCORIDEA, 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 Yams, and several South African and Mexican 
plants introduced into our greenhouses as curiosities on account of their 
massive woody rootstocks, contrasted with the slender, climbing annual 
stems. ’ 
