ERYTHRO'NIUM DENS CANIS. 
COMMON DOG’S-TOOTH VIOLET. 
Class. Order. 
HBXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
XiILIACEJE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Cultivated 
Europe 
5 inches. 
Mar. April. 
Perennial. 
in 1596. 
No. 181. 
The present generic name is derived from the 
Greek, as noticed under No. 178. Dens canis, 
from the Latin, signifying Dog’s-tooth ; in allusion 
to the form of its white bulbs. This term originated 
with some of the early botanists, from whom it has 
been introduced to all the European languages. In 
French it is called le dent de chien. Inltalian, 
dente d i cane. In German, hundszahn. In 
Russian, kandik. In Spanish, diente de 
perro. In Portuguese, dente de cao ; each 
language yielding the same idea. 
This species of Erythronium, though less rare 
than the yellow, is not less beautiful, and which no 
garden should be without ; but as there are two 
varieties, with very little difference, excepting in 
the size of their leaves, the largest should be pre- 
ferred, as it blossoms quite freely, which we have 
observed not to be the case with the smaller one. 
There is also a white variety, which is very desi- 
rable, not commonly met with. 
It may be planted in any common garden soil, 
and requires no further care than is usually bestowed 
on crocuses or snowdrops. 
46 Hort. Kew. 2, v. 2, 248. 
