cated in March last, by the Hon. William T. H. Fox Strangways,
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, from his
collection at Abbotsbury Castle, Dorset, along with the follow
in g interesting particulars respecting its characters and
“ lliis species has probably been overlooked as a variety
of either M. racemosum or butryoides, to which at first sight
it bears much resemblance. It is found in so many well
known parts of Italy, that it is not likely to have been neglected
on any other supposition.
“ The leaves are almost precisely those of the smaller varieties
of M. racemosum. Stalk pale-green, not growing
darker towards the flowers, as in that species and boiryoides.
Corolla deep purple, almost black, mouth compressed, the
obscure lacinim always black, never dilute purple or white,
nor expanding. , ^ , n
“ Before opening, the closed mouths ot the corollas are
green, even while the other parts are becoming purple.
Fruit triangular, heart-shaped. . . ,. ,,
“ I have myself found this plant m Sicily, Apulia, the
Campagna di Roma, and the pass called le gole d’ Itri, on
the frontier of Rome and Naples, where it grows in company
with the rare Crocus suaveolens of Bertoloni.
“ Flowers in March and A p ril—After many years cultivation,
it has not varied in the least, flowers scentless. Bulbs
clustered. Plant low and small, except when sometimes
drawn up among bushes.” „ , . pm
The generic name alludes to the odour of the type ot the
group, and is from the Greek ¡xoaxos, which again is derived
from the Arabic word nmk. D . Don.
Perianthium laid open to show the insertion of the stamens.
3. Ovarium.
2. Pistil.