February 15, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
121 
E xquisitely pure and beautiful as is the Snowdrop it 
would have a worthy rival in the Snowflake could rivalry 
be imagined between such beautiful flowers. It appears strange 
that while so many flowers'of less beauty have attracted the 
notice of many of our greater poets, the Leucoium seems to have 
met with unmerited neglect at their hands. So far as the writer 
is aware, James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, is the only one who 
has introduced this beautiful blossom into his verse. 
If, however, the poets have neglected the fair Snowflake, some 
of our old flower lovers recognised its beauty and worth in the 
garden. Parkinson in his “ Paradisus ” speaks of five sorts, one of 
which is probably a Snowdrop, and in other old works frequent 
mention under various names is made of one or more of the varie¬ 
ties. Since this is so the absence of the Snowflakes from so many 
gardens in the present day speaks volumes in testimony of the 
decadence of the taste for hardy bulbous flowers—a decadence 
which it is cheering to see has noc only been checked, but turned 
into a growing appreciation of the value of such flowers as the 
subjects of this article. 
In searching for information regarding the Leucoiums it is a 
little puzzling to find them figuring under such diverse names. 
The original spelling of the name one would think must have 
been Lcucoion, on account of its derivation from the two words 
leulcos, white, and ion^ a Violet, in allusion to the colour of the 
flowers. This appears to have been corrupted into Leucoium, and 
by a further change it became with many Leucojum. The popular 
name was in olden times the “ Bulbous Violet,” which it is supposed 
was altered by Curtis to Snowflake. Philip Miller, in his “ Gar¬ 
deners’ Dictionary,” classes it with the Snowdrop, under the name 
of Xarcisso-Leucojum, while he applies Leucojum itself to the 
Stocks and Wallflowers. Some interesting but unprofitable 
searches in the works of our old writers would permit of further 
remarks on this branch of the subject, but enough has probably 
been said already. 
The latest arrangement of the genus is that of Mr. J. G 
Baker in his “ Handbook of the Amaryllidese,” and in these noteg 
I have followed the classification of that work, which is of the 
greatest value to persons interested in the Narcissi, Galanthus, and 
other allied plants. .In the sub-genus Euleucojum Mr. Baker 
places the fairly well known Summer Snowflakes, L. sestivum of 
Linnaeus and L. pulchellum of Salisbury. These are not unfre- 
quently seen in gardens, but few who grow them observe that the 
plants are distinct. The first is, I think, the finer species, although 
the beautiful shining appearance of the flowers of the latter give 
it a claim to the specific name of pulchellum. Both are, however, 
worth growing, and should not be omitted from the garden, the 
flowers of L. pulchellum being about a fortnight earlier than those 
of L. aestivum. It is also distinguished by its narrower leaves and 
smaller flowers and capsules. It is true that these plants have a 
fault, and that is in their growth being tall compared with the size 
of the blooms, but this failing can well be condoned for the purity 
of the flowers themselves, which are snow white save for the beau, 
tiful green tips of the outside of the perianth segments, the blooms 
of L. pulchellum having a most beautiful satin-like lustre. These 
flowers are produced several on a long stout stem, and the bright 
green glossy leaves are a great feature of the beauty of the plant. 
No. 712.—VoL. XXVIII., Third Series, 
The normal period of flowering of these summer species is from 
the middle of April to the end of May. While L. aes'ivum is 
found over a wide extent of country, occurring in Britain, and 
from France to the Crimea, Armenia, and Bithynia, L. pulchellum 
appears to have a more restricted habitat, as Mr. Baker gives 
Sardinia and the Balearic Isles as its habitats. The “ Handbook of 
the Amaryllidese ” gives as a synonym of L. pulchellum, L. Her- 
nandezi ; and although nurserymen frequently catalogue the latter 
as distinct from pulchellum I have not yet seen any plant 
which would warrant one in differing from that authority. 
The sub-genus Erinosma contains only one species, L. vernum 
of Linna3us, and the “ Botanical Magazine ; ” Herbert’s name 
being Erinosma vernum. Of this and its varieties it is safe to say 
that they are worthy of a good place in the choicest collection of 
hardy flowers, coming into flower as they do when in most seasons 
all the Snowdrops are over and many of the Crocuses are in their 
fullest glory. The typical species, which usually blooms early 
in March, has very beautiful pure white flowers with the con¬ 
spicuous green tip on the outside which is so ornamental a feature 
of most of the Snowflakes. The leaves are bright green, and the 
height of this Snowflake is from 6 to 12 inches. Mr. Baker, iit 
his ‘‘Handbook,” names two varieties in addition to the type. These'^ 
are L. carpathicum and L. vernum var. Vagneri. L. carpathicum\ 
of Mr. Biker “ is a form with the perianth segments tipped with 
yellow instead of green.” Tois is a most beautiful little Snow- . 
flake, which I have had in my garden for some years. It is not 
at all common, but is a good grower and increases rapidly after 
having become established. L. vernum var. Vagneri Mr. Baker 
describes as a “ tall robust form with two flowers.” I believe this 
is the plant at one time sold by Messrs. Barr & Son as L. car¬ 
pathicum and which I had from them some years ago. The spots , 
are green, but the plant is a taller grower than the ordinary 
L. vernum ; blooms earlier and has generally fasciated flower- 
stems. 
There is also said to be another form with yellow spots, but 
this I have never been able to meet with, and it is not recognised 
in the “ Handbook of the Amaryllideae.” The double form of 
L. vernum (also unnoticed in the work referred to) is very rare^ 
and apparently a bad doer. It was at one time in the garden at 
Floore, and may still be there, and is also in the garden of Mr. 
James Allen of Shepton Mallet. It is not a go«d grower, and the 
flowers frequently fail to open. It is also, I understand, of less 
decorative value than the single forms. I have never seen this in 
any catalogue, but I believe it is in at least one nursery on the-. 
Continent. 
In the sub-genus Acis five species are described, and all of these- 
are still rare in gardens. L. trichophyllum and its variety grandi- 
florum, both of which flower in spring, are beautiful little Snow¬ 
flakes, resembling L. autumnale. They are unfortunately rather 
tender, and only to be recommended for favoured situations and 
well-drained soils. The flowers are pure white, and only from half 
to three-quarters of an inch long in the type, and three-quarters to 
an inch in the variety grandiflorum. The leaves are very slender. 
These Leucoiums are natives of Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and 
Algiers. With L. tingitanum from Morocco, near Tangier, which 
also flowers in spring, and L. longifolium from Corsica, flowering 
in April and May, I have no acquaintance. 
Of L. autumnale, however, which is of similar character, but 
flowers in autumn, one cannot speak too highly. It has been in 
my garden for a few years, and when in flower is admired by 
everyone who sees ih It is one of the fairy-like little plants which 
commend themselves to those who admire grace and delicacy in 
flowers. The flowers are white, slightly tinged with red, and drood 
gracefully on their slender stems, which are from 3 to 9 inches in 
length—in my garden about 6 inches. The leaves are grass-like, 
and generally appear immediately after the flowers. Of L. roseum, 
which flowers in September and October, I have had so little 
No. 2368.—VoL. XC., Old Series, 
