BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
293 
1. — THE AUTUMNAL MEADOW SAFFRON. (Colchicum autumnale, Lin.) 
Engravings. — Eng. Bot., t. 133; 2nd ed., t. 535 ; and our figs. 1 and 2, iu PI. 58. 
Specific Character. —Leaves flat, lanceolate, erect. Segments of the corolla oblong. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —This species is common in rich moist meadows in various parts of England. It flowers 
in September, the flowers appearing before the leaves, as in the Autumn-flowering Crocus. The Colchicum is 
poisonous, if eaten in a fresh state; but it is useful in medicines in allaying the pain of gout and rheumatism, and 
it is the basis of the celebrated medicine for the gout called Veau medicinale. The part used in medicine is the 
solid bulb, or corm, as it is properly called. There is a variety of this species, which has only been found near 
Devizes, in Wiltshire, and which bears its flowers with its leaves in April and May. The flower of this plant 
is of a pale greenish white, and the perianth is cut into very long narrow segments. (See our fig. 2, in Plate 58. 
CHAPTER LXXYI. 
THE AMARYLLIS FAMILY. (Amaryllises, R. Br.) 
Character of the Order. —Perianthium superior, in six parts, 
regular, with an imbricated aestivation ; the three sepals overlapping 
the petals. Stamens six, inserted on the segments of the perianthium ; 
filaments sometimes connate at the base ; the anthers turned inwards. 
Ovary three-celled, either many-seeded or few-seeded ; in the latter 
case the ovules ascending. Style one. Stigma with three lobes. 
Fruit three-celled, either capsular, with three loculicidal valves and 
many seeds ; or succulent, with from one to three seeds. Seeds neither 
black nor crustaceous ; the testa often extremely fleshy. Albumen 
fleshy r . Embryo straight, entire, pointing to the hilum. ( Lindley .) 
the flowers are 
British plants, 
Description, &c. —The roots of the plants belonging to this order are generally bulbous ; 
very ornamental; and the leaves have minute parallel veins. Only three of the genera contain 
and they are all placed in the Linnsean class Hexandria, and order Monogynia, from their six stamens and single 
styles. 
GENUS I. 
THE SNOWDROP. (Galanthus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Perianthium in six pieces ; the petals twice as short as the sepals, and emarginate. Stigma simple. 
Description, &c.— There is one British species. The name of Galanthus signifies, literally, milk flower, in 
allusion to the beautiful whiteness of the Snowdrop. 
1.—THE COMMON SNOWDROP. (Galanthus nivalis, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 19 ; 2ud ed., t. 466 ; and our fig. 5, in PI. 58. 
Specific Character. —Leaves not plaited. (Lindley .) 
Description, &c. —Nothing can be more beautiful thau the Snowdrop when it first makes its appearance ; 
its drooping flowers, their delicate whiteness, and the early period at which they are seen, contribute to make this 
simple little plant a general favourite, and to give it the preference over many of its more showy and brilliant 
