2 C [ 535 ]
N A R T H E C IU M offifragum.
Lancajhire jLfphodel.
H E X A N D R I A Monogynia,
Gen. Char. Cal. none. Petals 6, fpr.eading, permanent.
Stamina thread-fhaped, hairy. Capfule fu-
perior, prifmatic. Seeds with an appendage at
each end.
Spec. Char. . . . .
Syn. Narthecium offifragum. Hudf. 145. With. 339.
Anthericum offifragum. Linn. Sp. PL 446. FI. Dan.
t. 42.. Dickf. H. Sicc.fajc. 1. 5. Relh. 138.
Phalangium anglicum paluftre, Iridis folio. Rail
Syn. 3 7 5 .
A NATIVE of black turfy bogs in the north, as well as in
Surrey, Kent, and on Derfingham moor Norfolk, where it
flowers in July or Auguft.
Root fibrous, fomewhat tuberous and creeping as in the genus
of Iris. Stem 6 or 8 inches high, curved at the bafe,
eredt, Ample, round, fmooth, clothed with a few alternate,
fhort, pointed, carinated leaves. The radical leaves alfo referable
thofe of the Iris, except in being a great deal fmaller;
they are equitant, fword-fhaped, pointed, nervous and fmooth.
Spike terminal, eredt, of feveral yellow flowers, whofe footftalks
are eredt, alternate, Ample, angular, furnifhed with one bradtea
at the bafe, and another towards the fummit. Petals linear-
oblong, nervous, yellow, externally greenifh, permanent. Stamina
oppofite to the petals and a little Ihorter, thread-fhaped,
clothed with thick-fet yellowifh hairs. Antherae yellow, at
length twilled and brownilh. Germen oblong, pointed, triangular.
Stigma fmall, capitate, nearly feflile. Capfule prifmatic,
pointed, tawny, pohfhed, rigid, of three valves and three
cells, the partitions proceeding from the centre of the valves.
Seeds numerous, upright, imbricated, fomewhat cylindrical,
terminating at each end in an awl-fhaped appendage.
This moll diftindt genus was feparated from Anthericum by
Moering in the 6th volume of the Ephemerides Naturae Curi-
oforum, who has there given a full botanical hiftory of the
plant. Gorter follows h im ; and it is very remarkable that
Haller by miftake quotes both under his Anthericum n. 1205,
which is A. calyculatum of Linnaeus, our Tojieldia. Hence
Juflieu' and other French botanifts have called that by the
name of Narthecium.