Of this genus there are several forms which are worthy of being included among spring flowers when the collection, is to be composed of all that combine early-flowering qualities with some beauty or elegance in form or colour. But the Fritillarias cannot be regarded as decorative plants; they are more curious and elegant than showy and striking in colour. F. Meleagris is the best known, excepting perhaps the Crown Imperial (F. imperial-is), which flowers too late to be fit to include in a list of spring flowers, and also the handsomest both in colour and form. There are several varieties, the best being that usually regarded as the normal form, with purple-brown spotted flowers, and the white-flowered one. F. nigra has very deep, dark, reddish-brown flowers, and F. obliqua purple-brown flowers.