SNOWDROPS. 



197 



Apart from size, however, the arrangements of the petals 

 varies somewhat in different species. In G. nivalis the inner 

 segments are hroadly obcordate and spreading, the three divisions 

 forming a cup-like or boll-shaped protection to the anthers and 

 style in the centre of the blossom. In G. plicatus the inner 

 segments are more cylindrically arranged, the edges of the 

 segments being imbricated in a convolute manner, one within or 

 without the other. 



Again, in G. Ekuesii the inner segments are valvate, forming 

 what appears to be a tube, so cylindrical is the arrangement of 



Fig. 25. 



the petals, and in a less marked degree the same is true of 

 G. Foster i. 



When we come to the green markings on the sepals and petals, 

 we find that two forms of G. nivalis have their sepals striped or 

 marked with clouded lines of green. These are G. virescens 

 (basal) and G. Scharloki (apical). The sepals of some forms 

 of G, Fosteri are also blotched or spotted with green near their 

 apices. 



The petal markings are more definite, and in some species 

 and varieties form good distinguishing characters. G. Elwesii is 

 readily known by the bold oblong basal iblotch on each of its 

 inner petals, and by the two deltse one on either side the sinus, or 



