FRITILLA'RIA MELE'AGRIS. 
Variety multiplex. 
GUINEA-FOWL FRITILLARY. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
LILIACEjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers 1 
Habit. 
Inhabits 
Ireland. 
1 foot. 
April, May. ! 
Bulb. 
Moist places. 
No. 1228. 
The Latin word fritillus, a dice box, has been 
considered the foundation of Fritillaria. If the 
name be founded on the chequered pattern of the 
flowers, the dice or dice-board, and not the box, is 
alluded to. The specific name Meleagris, the Latin 
name of a Guinea or Turkey-hen, has also been 
used on account of the chequered colouring of each. 
With species of this double variety of the English 
F ritillaria, we are favoured by Mr. Macpherson, from 
the gaidens of the Hon. Frederic Gough, of Perry 
Hall. It is the variety grown at the Epsom nur- 
sery, and inserted in the Hortus Bntannicus as mul- 
tiplex ; it is completely hardy, and an ornamental 
border plant, requiring no care after being once 
planted. A collection of Fritillarias of this charac- 
ter would be interesting and desirable in the open 
garden, to assist in filling up the floral blank in the 
latter part of April and beginning of May ; a blank 
that usually exists after the first flash of spring has 
past, and summer perennials and annuals have not 
commenced flowering. To assist those who may 
desire to collect a few of these smaller species of 
F ritillaria, we will mention the chief of them. 
Class. 
hexandria. 
