[Illustration: 46]
The blossoms of the _Leucojum_ and _Galanthus_, or Snow-Drop, are very
similar at first sight, but differ very essentially when examined; the
Snow-Drop having, according to the Linnaean description, a three-leaved
nectary, which is wanting in the Leucojum; the two genera then being
very distinct, it becomes necessary to give them different names; we
have accordingly bestowed on the Leucojum the name of _Snow-Flake_,
which, while it denotes its affinity to the Snow-Drop, is not
inapplicable to the meaning of Leucojum.
As the spring Snow-Flake does not increase so fast by its roots, as the
Snow-Drop, or even the summer Snow-Flake, so it is become much scarcer
in our gardens; it may, indeed, be almost considered as one of our
plantae rariores, though at the same time a very desirable one.
It does not flower so soon by almost a month, as the Snow-Drop; but its
blossoms, which are usually one on each foot-stalk, sometimes two, are
much larger, and delightfully fragrant.
It is found wild in shady places and moist woods in many parts of
Germany and Italy. The most proper situation for it is a north or east
border, soil a mixture of loam and bog earth; but by having it in
different aspects, this, as well as other plants, may have its flowering
forwarded or protracted, and, consequently, the pleasure of seeing them
in blossom, considerably lengthened.
In a favourable soil and situation, it propagates tolerably fast by
offsets.
[47]
~Amaryllis formosissima. Jacobaean Amaryllis.~
_Class and Order._
~Hexandria Monogynia.~
_Generic Character._
_Corolla_ 6-petala, campanulata. _Stigma_ trifidum.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
AMARYLLIS _formosissima_ spatha uniflora, corolla inaequali petalis
tribus, staminibus pistilloque declinatis. _Lin. Syst. Vegetab. p. 320._
LILIO-NARCISSUS jacobaeus, flore sanguineo nutante, _Dillen. elth. 195.
t. 162. f. 196._