OX THE CYCLAMEN-. 
81 
III.— C. vernum. 
As its names indicates, a spring-flowering species, in bloom 
daring March and April. There is much controversy as to the 
identity of this plant, arising from mistakes, afterwards corrected, 
made by early authorities. So much so that in some catalogues a 
distinction is drawn between the true vernum and the vernum of 
Sweet, which, as I have already pointed out, is really ibericum , 
a winter-flowering species, and in support of this statement I quote 
Mr. Atkins. Writing to me, he says :—•“ See Bot. Mag., 1.1001, 
figured as hedercefolium ; this is the true vernum , called repandum in 
the Flower Garden, and various other names here and abroad. The 
name repandum does not appear to have been used before Sib thorp, 
who associated the plant he thus names with Clusius Cyclamen verno 
tempore florens.” 
On the other hand, Colonel Trevor Clarke, a botanist whose 
opinion is entitled to the utmost respect, writes thus to me : — 
t( The plant that occupied the name of vernum for many years was 
scarcely distinguishable from Coum , except by the leaf. I think it 
was a pity to disturb repandum , which was already muddled up 
with the autumnal hedercefolium , whilst the latter was confused 
with the summer-flowering europceum .” 
The flowers of C. vernum are very fragrant, in colour bright 
rosy purple, less frequently light rose, rarely white. 
Leaves broad, angular, and deeply lobed, the upper surface 
bright green, shining, and broadly marbled with silvery bands. 
Corm smooth, dark yellow, the roots proceeding from the centre 
of the underside of tuber. 
Mr» Tyerman remarks:—“ This interesting species is quite 
distinct from any other. The leaves and flowers somewhat 
resemble those of hedercefolium , but the flowers are longer, more 
slender, and destitute of the -teethlike projections formed by the 
reflexed segments of the corolla.” The flowers and leaves are pro¬ 
duced at the same time. This species is a native of Greece and 
Italy. 
[Note. —Since writing the above, I have prosecuted my in¬ 
quiries amongst the great Cyclamen growers on the Continent, 
who, while freely admitting the inaccurate nomenclature which 
holds amongst them, explain that it would be almost impossible 
to adopt the more strictly correct names, as the former are now so 
generally used that the utmost confusion would ensue on any 
attempt to effect a correction. 
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