SCII/LA TR.^'COX. 
EARLY-FLOWEKED SQUILL. 
Class. Order. 
HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
LILIACEit. 
Native of 
Heig'ht. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Introduceil 
Uncertain. 
4 inches. 
Mar. April. 
Bulbous. 
in 1790. 
No. 583. 
The Greek word skyllo, to injure, is supposed 
to be the root of our present generic name. It is 
certain that the term was aj)plied by the Greeks to 
an acrid bulb, and is so, we believe, at tlie present 
day. The description given by ancient authors of 
their skylla is too imperfect to admit of its being 
identified ; there are, how ever, strong reasons for 
supposing that the Scilla maritima, or officinal 
squill, was the jilant alluded to. The Latin word, 
praecox, signifies soon, or early. 
Although this species of Scilla has, so long ago 
as 1790, been introduced to England, it may be 
esteemed as comjiaratively rare; nor has any figure 
of it been hitherto published. It is one of those 
early attractions which we always meet with resus- 
citated pleasure. When the garden in the rising 
year begins to array itself in gold and purple — in 
youthful brilliancy, all nature joins in the scene of 
gladness. ’Twere ungrateful then for man to stand 
alone in sullen apathy. 
It will grow in any common soil, and its bulbs 
increase rather freely. It is a plant well suited also 
to pot culture. 
Ix)Ucloii’8 Ency. of PI. 278. 
