THE LILY FAMILY 
183 
included in and inserted on the perianth-tube ; pistil of 3 carpels united into a seedcase, 1 style, 
and a small stigma ; fruit a capsule, 3-celled, and opening by 3 valves down the middle of 
the cells (loculicidally). Herbs with strap-shaped (linear), rounded, . parallel-veined leaves, all 
from the root, and bulbous roots. 
Grape or Starch Hyacinth. (Mus'cari racemdsum. Lam. and DC.)— As just 
described. The only British species. The flowers are small, oblong, nodding, darkish blue or 
occasionally white, with a minute bract at the base of each, in a cluster (raceme) f-i£ inches long 
terminating a stem 4 inches to 1 foot high ; the upper flowers are often imperfect ; and the leaves 
are very narrowly strap-shaped (linear) and semi-cylindrical. \Plate 59. 
Very rare. In sandy fields ; near Cavenham and Pakenham in Surrey and about the Gogmagog 
Hills, Cambridgeshire. April — May. Perennial. 
VIII. HYACINTH. (SCIL'LA. Linn.) — Flowers bell-shaped, tubular, or spreading, blue, 
purple, or white, rarely pink, in erect or drooping clusters (racemes), with or without a bract at 
the base of each flower, terminating a leafless stalk from the root (scape). Perianth of 6 free lobes, 
inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; stamens 6, inserted below the middle or on the base of the 
perianth-lobes ; carpels 3, united into a 3-celled seedcase, a long style, and a minute stigma, 
3-lobed or entire ; fruit a capsule, 3-celled, with few black roundish seeds in each cell, opening by 
3 valves down the middle of the cells (loculicidally). Herbs with strap-shaped (linear), 
parallel-veined leaves, all from the bulbous root. 
Perianth-lobes spreading ; flowers erect, in erect cluster. 
(1) Autumnal Squill. (Scil'la autumndlis.) — Flowers without bracts. 
(2) Spring Squill. (Scil'la ver'na.) — Flowers with 1 bract at the base of each flower. 
Perianth-lobes bell-shaped ; flowers drooping in drooping cluster. 
(3) Bluebell. (Scil'la non-scripta.) — Two bracts at the base of each flower. 
1. Autumnal Squill. (Scil'la autumn&lis. Linn.) — As just described. A little plant 
with an erect cluster of pale violet-blue flowers with a darker line down the back of each spreading 
perianth-lobe, without a bract at the base of each flower ; the flower-stem 6-9 inches high ; and 
the strap-shaped dark-green leaves appearing after the flowers. 
Rare, local. On sandy or dry pastures, especially near the sea ; in the south and west of 
England. July — October. Perennial. 
2. Spring 1 or Vernal Squill. (Scil'la ver'na. Huds.) — A charming little plant with an 
erect cluster of delicate, pale-lilac, star-like flowers, with dark purple stamens, terminating a stem 
usually about 6 inches high ; the perianth-lobes are spreading ; there is a lance-shaped bract below 
each flower ; and the leaves, which are recurved, are often longer than the flower-stem and are 
out at the same time as the flowers. \Plate 59. 
Local. On sandy pastures and ledges of rock near the sea; abundant in parts of Cornwall, 
along the western, northern, and rarely eastern coasts of England, the east of Scotland, and 
abundant on the east coast of Ireland. April — May. Perennial. 
3. Bluebell, Wild Hyacinth. (Scil'la non-scripta. Hoffmgg. and Link.)— One of our 
best known and favourite wild flowers, with long clusters, drooping at the top, of bell-shaped, 
purple-blue, or rarely white, sweet scented, drooping flowers, with 2 purplish bracts at the base of 
each flower. The flower-stem 6-18 inches high, very fleshy and juicy, and the leaves dark green 
and strap-shaped. ( Hyacinthus 7 ion-scriptus. Linn. ; Endymion nutans. Dumort. ; Scilla nutans. 
S?n.) \Plate 59. 
