r
leaves sessile, equal, oblong-lanceolate, scarcely apiculate,
revolute, glossy, furnished at the base with a rather wide
furrow, the edges of which are thin, connivent, valvate, and
papillose. Stamens 6, equal. Filaments awlshaped, glabrous,
of a pale red, connivent at the base, spreading at the
top, shorter than the leaves of the perianthium. Anthers incumbent,
about 2 lines long, of a brown purple. Pistil
shorter than the stamens. Omrium triquetrous. Style triquetrous,
about the length of the ovarium. Stigma capitate,
6-lobed, the lobes connivent and minutely papillose. Capsule
scarcely an inch long, rounded-oval or turbinate, swollen,
membranous, marked by 6 faint lines, 3-celled, 3-valved,
the angles round, even, not keeled. Seeds brown, flat,
dotted, with a narrow, membranous border.
In delicacy of foliage, brilliancy of flowers, and gracefulness
of habit, the present is not surpassed by any others
of this highly ornamental genus. It is a native of the vast
steppes of Siberia, where it appears to be abundant, but it is
never found to extend beyond the 55 degree of north latitude.
The bulbs are eaten by the wandering Tartars.
^ It had been confounded by Pallas, and most other botanists,
with L . pomponium, from which it is easily distinguished
by its smooth sepals, and by the more rounded
angles of its capsule. Dr. Fischer first determined it to be
a distinct species, and gave it the very apt name which it
now bears. In L . chalcedonicum the sepals are warted, and
the angles of the capsules keeled at the top. The whole
plant is likewise much larger, the leaves broader, and the
flowers nearly double the size. Our drawing was taken
from specimens which flowered in the Botanic Garden,
Chelsea, where the plant was unusually luxuriant. Z>. Don.
1. Primary leaf. 2. Portion of a leaf magnified.
ill!'
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