1898.] 



NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 



43 



Calochortus elegans Pursh. 



A small bulb of a pleasant 

 flavor ; eat by tbe natives. On 

 the Kooskooskee, May 17, 1806. 

 [Small specimen, 1 leaf and 1 

 flower. Specimen depauperate 

 in manner of var. nanus, Wood, 

 but petals obtusisli aud not cili- 

 ate.] 



Camassia esculenta Lindl. 



Near the foot of the Rocky 

 Mountains on the Quamash flats. 

 June 23, 1806. [Good specimen]. 



Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh. 



A squamose bulb. On the 

 waters of the Kooskooskee, June 

 5, 1806. [Indifferent specimen 

 with one good flower and a poor 

 leaf] 



Erythronium grandiflorum var. parvi- 

 florum Wats. 



From the plains of the Col- 

 umbia near Kooskooskee River, 

 May 8, 1806. The natives reck- 

 on the root unfit for food. [Three 

 flowers and one leaf bearingstem. 

 Probably the Missouri River 

 specimen of E.laneeolatum Pursh, 

 Fl. 230.] 



Pursh, Fl. 240. On the head- 

 waters of the Kooskooskee. M. 

 Lewis. % . May, v. s. in Herb. 

 Lewis. The roots are eaten by 

 the natives. 



Phalanglum Quamash Pursh, 

 Fl. 226. On the upper part of 

 the Missouri, near the Rocky 

 Mountains. M. Lewis. 2/ . June 

 v. s. in Herb. Lewis. 



35 



Pursh, Fl. 231. On the Koos- 

 kooskee. M. Lewis. 11 ; May 

 June, v.s. 



13 Pursh says: "on the Upper Missouri near the Rocky Mountains, M. 

 Lewis, June. The plant is known among the natives as Quamash, and the 

 bulbs are carefully collected by them and baked between hot stones, when 

 they assume the appearance of baked pears, and are of an agreeable sweet 

 taste ; they form a great part of their winter stores. Though an agreeable 

 food to Captain Lewis' party, they occasion baneful complaints if eaten in 

 quantity." Under June 29, 1806, the Journal says : " the Quamash and 

 strawberries are just beginning to bloom at the flats at the head of the Koos- 

 kooskee." 



