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HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Scilla. 
long; sometimes white or flesh colour. Stamens , their lower half united 
to the petals, thread-shaped. Germen egg-shaped, angular, destitute of 
nectariferous pores. Style about the same length, deciduous, except at 
the very base. Summit abrupt. Juice slimy, or glutinous. 
Forty years ago Dr. Stokes observed, “ The Hare-bell appears to me to 
possess more of the habit, and even structure, of Scilla than of Hyacin- 
thus; and at the same early period the Author of this work, impelled by 
a like conviction, expressed a “ wish that Linnseus had arranged this 
plant under the genus Scilla further remarking, in the third Edition of 
his “ Arrangement,” that ce the blossoms shrivelling, and not falling off, 
and the ends of the petals being rolled back, seem to constitute the only 
observable differences.” Following these suggestions; several, though not 
all the most distinguished Botanists, have so arranged this species; as was 
likewise done in our fifth and sixth Editions. During the present month of 
May, (1826,) we have taken frequent opportunities to examine numerous 
living specimens, and are thereby confirmed in our decision, both from the 
absence of the nectariferous pores on the germen, and by the six petals 
being in every instance absolutely distinct; which may be most satisfac¬ 
torily proved by tracing the outer edge of the petal to its base in flowers 
not fully expanded. Neither would any one, we presume, unconscious 
of the question, on inspecting the best figures of the Hare-bell, (as that 
of Curtis, in FI. Lond.) imagine them to be intended to represent a 
monopetalous corolla. E.) 
Hare-bell Squill. Wild Hyacinth. (Irish: Buha Muck. Welsh: 
Bwtias y gog; Cenhinen y brain. Hyacintkus non-scriptvs. Linn. Huds. 
Curt. With. Ed. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Hook. Grev. Purt. S. nutans. De Cand. 
Sm. With. Ed. 5, 6, and 7. Woods and hedges, not unfrequent both in 
England and Scotland. P. May. E.)* 
* The fresh roots are poisonous. They may be converted into starch, (or prepared as a 
substitute for gum arabic. Gray. E.) Phalcena Plantaginis lives upon this plant. (Much 
confusion has prevailed respecting the appellations of the favourite Bell-flowers. The present 
species is the genuine English Hare-bell: the little Campanula , whose blossom “ nods on 
the summit of a stalk so slender as to appear supported by magic,” and which we call the 
Heath-bell , is the Hare-bell of Scotland : while the Hare-bell of England is the Scottish 
Blue-bell , intimately associated with one of our most popular modern airs. Indeed 
scarcely less celebrated in song than the famed Hyacinth of the ancients, (a flower no 
longer to be identified with certainty), is the simple Hare-bell, which with the revival of 
nature, animates 
- (i the lone copse, or shadowy dell, 
Wild cluster’d.” 
The term von-scriptus was applied to this plant by Dodonaeus, because it had not the 
characters A’/, Ai (the very tokens of grief, as though so impressed by the fatal discus 
which deprived this favourite of Apollo of life), inscribed on the petals, and therefore could 
not be H. poeticus. The true poetical Hyacinth of the ancients is supposed, by those who 
hazard a conjecture, to be the Red Martagon Lily, most of which, Mr. Martyn observes, 
are marked with a darker colour forming the revered symbol, 
-“ Apollo with unweeting hand, 
Whilome did slay his dearly loved mate, 
Young Hyacinth , the pride of Spartan land ; 
But then transformed him to a purple flower.” 
And Virgil in speaking of the Hyacinth, uses an epithet peculiarly applicable to the Mar¬ 
tagon Lily: 
et ferrugineos Hyacinthos.” Georg. 4. 
