Snowflake, a name said to have been invented by Curtis for leucoium vernum, to distinguish it from snowdrop, to which it is nearly related and which it closely resembles. Leucoium (the ancient Greek name) is a small genus of the amaryllis family, of three species, all of which are European; it differs from galanthus (see Snowdrop) in having one to seven flowers upon the scape, and the divisions of the flower are of equal length. In our catalogues L. vernum is the plant offered as snowflake, but the English designate this as spring snow-flake, as summer and autumnal species are also sold more commonly than with us. The spring snowflake comes very early, and is much like a large snowdrop, its scape, about 12 in. high, bearing a single, large, very fragrant, pure white flower, each division of which is tipped witli green. The summer snowflake (L. oesti-vum) has a scape about 2 ft. high, with three to seven flowers about an inch long, blooming in late spring or early summer. The autumnal snowflake (L. autumnale, also called Acis) has narrow leaves and a scape G in. high, bearing two to three small flowers, which are pure white or suffused with rose, and appearing before the leaves in September. This is only a greenhouse plant here; the others are treated like other spring bulbs. (See Hyacinth).

Snowdrop Tree (Halesia tetraptera).

Spring Snowflake (Leucoium vernum), Flower and Bulb.