THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
23 
Rossetti describes the flowers as having **a hcart-= 
shaped seal of green." Of the six parts, it is the inner 
three that are narrow and notched at the apex. Usually 
there is but one flower on a stem, emerging from a sort o^ 
spathe, and attached to the ovary. The divisions of thd 
flowers, as well as the stamens, are six in number and the 
anthers of the latter are golden yellow. While there are 
a number of species known to botanists, nivalis is the 
most satisfactory and the one oftenest seen. To double 
them is to *'gild refined gold ;" as a matter of fact, they 
are handsomer single — as are most flowers. They are' 
Crimean, Caucasian or Mediterranean in origin, and 
nivalis^ at least, appears perfectly hardy. We have often' 
seen it on Valentine's day — coincident with snow and ice. 
The plants are of the Amaryllis family. ' 
Other plants equally early and hardy are the various 
crocuses, all of the Iris family. One may at first suppose' 
them to be of the lily alliance, but the three stamens with* 
backs to the pistil and the flower tube adherent to thet 
ovary, though often well under ground, show their aflSlia ' 
tion to the fleur-de-lis, ' 
The species are mostly from Eastern Europe, Greece,' 
the Crimea and Palestine. Some extend as far as Central 
Europe, and others, by long cultivation, have established 
themselves — as in England, where one might take them ta 
be indigenous. Even here they will hold their own in 
garden-bed or grass-plot for a long time. They exhibit ai 
great range of color — from pure white through lavender 
to violet and purple, and from pure yellow to orange: 
Their species are infinite. We have an octavo, or rather 
folio volume in the University Library exhibiting large 
numbers of them in exquisite color. Besides their colors, 
the satiny sheen adds to their charm. On a sunny spring 
day I can watch them for hours envying the bees who* 
explore their silken pavilions. By the way, how soon' 
these busy fellows find them out, as they do also the 
honey-laden catkins of the wnllow ! 
One species. Crocus saterris, is a light purple, autumn 
