244 ASSOCIATIONS OF FLOWERS 
monarch, the modest lily of our own valleys, and the 
floating species, all belong to different orders’; but as the 
plants contained in the Liliacese are few, we may here 
notice them all. 
The tulip (Tulipa) was introduced hither from Persia 
in 1559. It is unnecessary to speak here of the immense 
importance which Dutch florists have attached to this 
plant; and it is still an obiect of much value, both in 
Holland and in England, among cultivators of choice 
flowers. It was formerly called tulpia. 
The fritillarv. which includes the crown imperial (Fri- 
tillaria imperialis), with its large cluster of orange or 
pale-yellow bells, is a family of handsome plants. The 
word fritillary is taken from “ fritillus,’’ a dice-box. One 
species grows wild in Britain, and is often called the 
mourning widow. It is very rare; but the chequered 
marks on its flower suggested the name of the genus. It 
was formerly called chequered daffodil. 
The remaining plants of the lily order are the pretty 
dog’s-tooth violets (Erythronium), which are quite unlike 
a violet, being more in shape like a small Turk’s-cap; 
having, however, a single flower on the top of a stem, 
and being generally of a purple or yellow colour, though 
somietimes white. This plant has at first but one leaf, 
until the flower has blown, when it is decked with two 
broad leaves, spotted with white and reddish purple. It 
grows wild in Germany, Italy, and Siberia. The superb 
orange or blue-flowered gloriosa, which has no English 
name, and received this from the beauty of its fl.owers; 
and the tall evergreen, yucca, complete the list of this 
order of plants. The latter plant, with its aloe-like look, 
is often called Adam’s needle. It has handsome white or 
cream-coloured blossoms, and grows wild in various parts 
of America. 
