BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
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and on hedge-banks, to which places it has probably migrated from gardens. The bulbs are eatable when 
boiled. The flowers appear in April and May, but they only expand when the sun shines. 
PRUSSIAN ASPARAGUS, OR THE SPIKED STAR OF BETHLEHEM. (O. Pyrenaicum, Lin.) 
This species grows abundantly in the neighbourhood of Bath, and the flower-stalk, before the flowers have 
expanded, is sold in the market-place of that city as a kind of Asparagus, and is very good to eat. It is also 
found occasionally in Sussex and Bedfordshire, but it is far from being common. It flowers in June and July. 
The flowers are smaller and less ornamental than those of the other species, and they are arranged pyramidally 
on a flower-scape, from one foot to two feet high. 
THE DROOPING STAR OF BETHLEHEM. (O. nutans, Lin.) 
This is the largest-flowered of the British species, but it is the most rare. It flowers in April and May. 
GENUS IY. 
THE MOUNTAIN SPIDER-WORT. (Anthericum, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. LIEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Perianthium six-parted, petaloid, equal, three-celled, with three valves bearing the dissepiments in the middle, 
spreading, deciduous. Stamens six. Filaments bearded. Anthers Seeds few, angular, naked at the hilum. ( R. Br.) 
versatile. Ovary polyspermous. Style filiform. Capsule roundish, 
Description, &c. —Only one species of this genus is a native of Britain, and as it is only found on the 
highest parts of Snowdon, it is not very likely to be met with by any of my readers. It is a little 
insignificant plant, which produces its whitish flowers in June. The word Anthericum signifies Hedge-flower, a 
name quite inappropriate to the only British species. 
GENUS Y. 
THE SQUILL. (Scilla, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Perianthium six-parted, generally spreading and deciduous. Filaments filiform, smooth, inserted into the base 
of the perianthium. Seeds roundish. Roots bulbous. (Duly.) 
Description, See. — These beautiful little plants are found abundantly in different parts of England, but they 
often escape notice, from their dwarf stature, and the resemblance of their leaves to grass. The name of Scilla 
is said to be derived from a Greek word, signifying to injure, from the roots being supposed to be poisonous. 
5. verna is, perhaps, the most common, but S. autumnalis is also found very frequently. S. bifolia is the most 
rare, and it is probably not a true native. 
GENUS VI. 
THE GRAPE HYACINTH. (Muscari, Tourn.) 
Lin. Syst. HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Perianthium ovate, inflated, six-toothed. Capsule three-cornered, with prominent angles. Cells two-seeded. 
Description, &c. —The Starch Hyacinth (M. racemosum, Mill.), is the only species of this genus that has 
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