THE LILY FAMILY 
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seedcase, and separating into 3 long slender styles and stigmas ; fruit a 3-celled capsule, many- 
seeded, opening by 3 valves down the cell-walls (septicidally) ; this capsule is situated under 
ground at the base of the perianth-tube and rises above ground with the leaves the following 
spring. Herbs with parallel-veined leaves all from the bulbous roots. 
Meadow Saffron, Autumn Colchicum. (Col'chicum autumn&le. Linn.)— The 
only British species. As just described. The flowers are bright mauve or rarely white, the 
cup-shaped lobes are i|-if inches long, and the stalk-like perianth-tube rises some 4 or 
5 inches above the ground ; the flowers appear in the autumn when the leaves are faded, and the 
fruit appears the following spring with the flat erect lance-shaped leaves. 
The bulbs and seeds of this species are employed in medicine. They contain an active 
poison, which when properly diluted is beneficial in cases of gout. The leaves kill cattle that feed 
on them. \Plate 61. 
Local, rather rare. In meadows ; abundant in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and found in 
many parts of England ; not native in Scotland, and rare in Ireland. September — October. 
Perennial. 
XVII. BOG ASPHODEL. (NARTHECIUM. Huds.) — A genus consisting of one known 
species : — 
Bog: Asphodel. (Narthecium ossifr&grum. Huds.)— The flowers are inch 
across, bright yellow with orange anthers, in a spike-like cluster terminating a stem from the root 
6-12 inches high, on which are a few scale-like bracts. Perianth of 6 free, spreading lobes, inserted 
below the seedcase (inferior ) ; stamens 6, the filaments woolly, inserted by the perianth ; carpels 3, 
united into a seedcase, 1 style, and an undivided stigma ; fruit a capsule, becoming vivid red, 
3- celled, many-seeded, opening down the middle of the cells by 3 valves. The leaves are in 
tufts from the root and are short and sword-shaped ; and the root is creeping and sends off tufts 
of fibres. [ Plate 61. 
Common. In bogs on mountains and wet moors ; throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland. 
June — August. Perennial. 
XVIII. SCOTTISH ASPHODEL. (TOFIELD'IA. Huds.)— Flowers small, white or greenish, 
in a spike-like cluster terminating a nearly leafless stalk from the root. Perianth of 6 free lobes, 
inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; stamens 6, inserted on the base of the perianth ; carpels 3, 
united into a seedcase and separating into 3 short styles each crowned with a pin-head-like stigma ; 
fruit a capsule, 3-lobed, many-seeded, opening by 3 valves down the cell-walls (septicidally). 
Herbs with short sword-shaped leaves, parallel-veined, and all from the root, which is slender, 
creeping, and throwing off many fibres. 
Scottish Asphodel. (Tofield'ia palus'tris. Huds.)— The only British species. 
As just described. The flowers are very small, yellowish-white, in a short spike-like cluster 
terminating a stem about 6 inches high, which is leafless or has one or two leaves at the base or 
rarely one near the middle ; the leaves from the root are 1-2 inches high, flat, sword- 
shaped (ensiform), and resembling those of the Common Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum). 
\Plate 61. 
Rare, local. In mountain bogs ; in England inTeesdale, not uncommon in the Scotch Highlands, 
not found in Ireland. July — August. Perennial. 
XIX. HERB PARIS. (PARIS. Linn.) — Flower rather large, erect, stalked, solitary, with 
4- 10 leaves in a circle (whorl) at its base, terminating a naked stem from the root. Perianth of 
o 2 
