BULBOCODIUM VERNUM. 
SPRING BULBOCODIUM. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
MELANTHACEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Cultivated 
Spain. 
4 inches. 
February. 
Bulb. 
in 1629. 
No. 557. 
The two Greek words, bolbos, a bulb; and ko- 
dion, wool, are compounded in the present instance, 
to indicate the woolly or fibrous coating of the bulb. 
This plant has long been known by English bot- 
anists, and is described by Gerard, Parkinson, Mil- 
ler, and others; it is, notwithstanding, of rare oc- 
currence. Flowering, as it does, in the same season 
as the crocus, and having much the same appear- 
ance, it would be overlooked by the common obser- 
ver. Its bulbs and leaves are, however, altogether 
dissimilar, and its flowers will be found to contain 
six stamens in lieu of three. Each root most fre- 
quently produces two flowers, as in our figure, but 
sometimes only one. Unless it be in frosty and very 
favourable weather, they continue long in beauty. 
The Bulbocodium vernum cannot be considered 
as thoroughly hardy in our climate, but the sim- 
plest means would suffice to protect it. Its bulbs 
increase slowly, and the young offsets may be re- 
moved every second or third year. This should be 
done soon after the decay of their leaves, and if re- 
quisite, the bulbs may be kept out of the ground, 
a few weeks in a dry state. 
140 Hort.Kew. 2, v. 2, 231. 
Class. 
HEXANDRIA. 
