SNOWDROPS. 



193 



In studying Snowdrops we find (as is usually the case) that 

 the leaves and the flowers afford the best means of distinguishing 

 the species one from another ; but before passing to these we 

 may glance at the bulb characters also. 



The Bulb Characters. 



The bulbs of Snowdrops may be referred to three typical,, 

 shapes, viz. the ovoidal or egg-shaped, as in G. nivalis ; the 

 rhomboidal or short spindle-shaped, as in G. plicatus ; and the 

 rounded or even oblate spheroidal, as in G. Ehvesii. In size 

 Snowdrop bulbs will vary within narrow limits, according to* 

 their luxuriance ; but those of G. nivalis 

 vary from half to three-quarters of an inch 

 in diameter, being indeed about the size of 

 hazel-nuts. The double variety has stouter- 

 looking bulbs, while those of G. plicatus and 

 G. Imperati are often an inch or more in 

 diameter, being similar in size and shape to 

 pigeons' eggs. 



As seen in bulk, the bulbs of all the true 

 species are recognisable by their different 

 shapes and sizes, and by the lighter or 

 darker hue of their hazel-nutlike brown 

 bulb-coatings, as grown on any one kind of 

 soil. 



If you make a cross-section of a bulb of 

 any Snowdrop, you find it composed of the 

 swollen bases or petioles of two, three, or 

 more of its former leaves, arranged eccen- 

 trically around the new growth. The inner 

 faces of two of these bulb-scales, as they are 

 called, are fluted or channelled in a very 

 pretty way, and covered with a delicate 

 satin-like membrane. The eccentric arrange- 

 ment as shown in the woodcut (fig, 23 b) of 

 two of the bulb -scales is very peculiar, and 

 I know of no other instance except in bulbs of Galanthus. 

 Fig. 23 a shows the vertical section of a Snowdrop bulb. 



Fig. 23. 



