pointed, striated, and slightly furrowed on the upper side, sheathing 
at the base. Flower- stalks curved, shorter than the leaves, simple 
or branched, sometimes leafy. Sphatha of 2 valves, the outer one 
(fig. 1 , a.) upright, green, and longer than the tube of the corolla ; 
inner one (fig. 1 , b.) rather shorter, of a lightish brown colour, 
membranous. Corolla of a purplish blue colour, ribbed, yellowish 
at the base, varying to white or yellow. Stamens (fig. 3.) yellow. 
Germen green. Style and Stigma (fig. 3, c. & d.) pale yellow. 
Capsule (fig. 5.) smooth and ash-coloured. Seeds (fig. 6.) shining, 
brownish. 
This very pretty little plant is subject to much variation in its 
size, as well as in the colour of its blossom. Sir J. E. Smith in- 
forms us, in his Tour on the Continent, v. ii. p. 283, that the little 
green hillocks around the famous fountain of Egeria, near Rome, 
are studded with endless varieties of the I'xia f Trichonema) Bul- 
bocodium, with purple, yellow, or small white flowers. There are 
several specimens of it preserved in the Sherakdian Herbarium, 
in the Oxford Garden, some of which are only 2 inches high, mea- 
suring from the base of the bulb ; and there are others which 
measure as much as 9 inches. Specimens of the same Trichonema, 
collected many years ago in Asia by Dr. W. Sherard ; and others, 
more recently collected in the same country, by Dr. J. Sibthorp, 
are preserved in Du Bois’, and in the Sibthorpian Herbariums, 
both in the Library of the Oxford Botanic Garden. There is also, 
in the Sherardian Herbarium , a specimen, of what is there con- 
sidered a variety of Trichonema Bulbocodium, with a much larger 
flower, but there is no notice from whence it was obtained ; it is 
probably the same variety to that figured in Curtis’s Botanical 
Magazine, t. 265, and which is there said to be a native of Spain 
and Italy. This is considered by Mr. Ker ( Annals of Botany, 
v. ii. p.223) specifically distinct. 
The plants from which the drawing for the accompanying plate was made, 
were kindly communicated to the Oxford Garden by the Rev. A . BLOxAM.in 1835. 
“ The greatest pleasure the mind is capable of in this life,” says Feltiiam, 
“ is in the Contemplation of God and Nature, the sweetness of Philoso- 
phy, and the discourse of Reason.” And it is justly observed by Mr. Edwin 
Lees, that “ Man seeks his truest happiness in directing his attention to the 
works of God. The objects of ambition,” says this pleasing writer, “ a breath 
may destroy ; but the pleasures of the Naturalist are ever pure and bright as the 
source from which they emanate, and incapable of decay. His are unalloyed 
pleasures, where no care intrudes, which no revolution can endanger, and no 
reverse of fortune destroy 
‘ The storm that wrecks the winter sky. 
No more disturbs his calm repose, 
Than summer evening’s latest sigh 
That shuts the rose.’ 
The turmoil of the world may lose its power to please, and the aerial castles 
formed by ardent hope may vanish away ; but the beauties of vegetation, and 
the varied face of Nature, will still impart a perennial charm, of which none can 
deprive us 
* See “ The Affinities of Plants with Man and Animals, their analogies and 
associations; A Lecture, delivered before the Worcestershire Natural History 
Society, Nov. 26, 1833, by Edwin Lees, Member of the Entom. Soc. of London, 
&c. 8vo. pp. 122. London: published by W. Edwards. 1834.” 
I have derived much pleasure and satisfaction from the perusal of this very de- 
lightful little work ; it is, indeed, impossible to open a single page without meet- 
ing with something to amuse, and something to instruct. 
