k, turning to blue; leaves blotted.

_P. off. alba_ differs only in the flowers being an unchanging white.

_P. angustifolia_, also British, having, as its specific name implies,
narrow leaves; flowers bright blue or violet.

_P. mollis_, in several varieties, comes from North America; is distinct
from its leaves being smaller, the markings or spots less distinct, and
more thickly covered with _soft_ hairs, whence its name.

_P. azurea_ has not only a well-marked leaf, but also a very bright and
beautiful azure flower; it comes from Poland.

_P. maculata_ has the most clearly and richly marked leaf, and perhaps
the largest, that being the chief distinction.

_P. saccharata_ is later; its flowers are pink, and not otherwise very
distinct from some of the above kinds.

It is not necessary to enumerate others, as the main points of
difference are to be found in the above-mentioned kinds.

All are very easily cultivated; any kind of soil will do for them, but
they repay liberal treatment by the extra quality of their foliage.
Their long and thick fleshy roots allow of their being transplanted at
any time of the year. Large clumps, however, are better divided in early
spring, even though they are then in flower.

Flowering period, March to May.

Puschkinia Scilloides.

SCILLA-LIKE PUSCHKINIA, _or_ STRIPED SQUILL; _Syns._
P. LIBANOTICA, ADAMSIA SCILLOIDES; _Nat. Ord._
LILIACEAE.

As all its names, common and botanical, denote, this charming bulbous
plant is like the scillas; it may, therefore, be useful to point out the
distinctions which divide them. They are (in the flowers) to be seen at
a glance; within the spreading perianth there is a tubular crown or
corona, having six lobes and a membranous fringe. This crown is
connected at the base of the divisions of the perianth, which divisions
do not go to the base of the flower, but form what may be called an
outer tube. In the scilla there is no corona, neither a tube, but the
petal-like sepals or divisions of the perianth are entire, going to the
base of the flower. There are other but less visible differences which
need not be further gone into. Although there are but two or three known
species of the genus, we have not only a confusion of names, but plants
of another genus have been mistaken as belonging to this. Mr. Baker, of
Kew, however, has put both the plants and names to their proper
belongings, and we are no longer puzzled with a chionodoxa unde