218 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



table, the flavour being considered to be somewhat like that of 

 Asparagus. 



0. nutans, (Linn.) Engl. Bot. t. 1997, has been observed in a 

 plantation at Bromham, near Devizes, also in orchards at Limpley 

 Stoke, North-west District, possibly in both cases only an outcast 

 from gardens. 



Allium, (Linn.) Gaelic. 

 Linn. CI. vi. Ord. i. 

 Name. From the Celtic all, which signifies acrid, burning. Dr. 

 Withering thinks it is probably derived from oleo, (Gr.) to shun 

 or avoid ; the smell being disagreeable to many. 



1. A. vineale, (Linn.) vineyard Garlick, crow Garlic. Tinea is 

 Latin for a vineyard, in which locality it is often found abroad. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1974. Beich Icones, t. 404. A. arenarium, Fries. 



Locality. Corn fields, waste ground, and dry places. P. El. July. 

 Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Distributed more or less throughout all the 

 Districts. Stem 1 to 2 feet high. Bulbs numerous. Spatha of 

 one deciduous leaf. Flowers on longish peduncles, which are 

 thickened upwards, few, erect, reddish, green on the keels, shorter 

 than the stamens, whose filaments, as well as the anthers are protruded. 

 /3. A. compactum, (Thuil) umbel without flower-head bulbs, with a 

 leaf-like point, is a form of this species and is the more common state 

 in Wilts. 



2. A. ursinum, (Linn.) Bear's Garlic. Bamsons, 1 Engl. Bot. 1. 122. 

 Locality. Copses and moist shady places. P. Fl. May, June. 



Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. General in all the Districts. Flowers white. 

 Umbels without bulbs, level- topped. Spatha of £wo ovate, lanceolate 

 leaves. This is a handsome species, but it exhales, like most other 

 species of its genus, when bruised, a very strong disagreeable odour. 

 Endymion, (Dumort) Blue-bell. 

 Linn. CI. vi. Ord. i. 

 Name. Endymion of Greek authors ; the name of some purple 

 flower. 



1 " Ramsons (allium ursinum fi. alboj ; tast like Garlick — they grow much 

 in Cranbourn Chace." — Aubrey, Nat. Hist. Wilts. 



"Eate leekes in Lide [March], and ramsins in May, 

 And all the yeare after physitians may play." 



