represented accord : its leaves are bright green ; the flowers 

 deep purple ; 5 of the segments have a direction upwards, 

 while the sixth is bent down ; the stamens are ascending, 

 and the style is declinate. No doubt, therefore, can exist, 

 not only of their specific, but even of their generic dif- 

 ference. 



In deciding to what genus to refer this plant, we have 

 felt a difficulty that must have been experienced by all 

 who have ever studied the group of Asphodeleae, to which 

 it no doubt belongs ; viz. that the genera Scilla, Orni- 

 thogalum, Anthericum, and their allies, are characterised 

 so loosely that one can never tell their precise limits. 

 This arises from two circumstances ; the first of which is, 

 that the hybernaculum, which in these plants is an organ 

 of primary importance, is not taken as an essential cha- 

 racter of genera; and the second is, that too many anomalies 

 are suffered to enter into the most recent arrangements 

 of the species. In tribes of plants so simple in structure 

 and so very uniform as Asphodeleee, it is, as in Umbelliferae, 

 Cruciferas, and other Dicotyledonous Orders of a like nature, 

 indispensible that the genera should be confined within the 

 most exact limits ; and it is far better that this should be 

 effected by the creation of many new genera, than that it 

 should not be done at all. For this reason, we formerly 

 separated Barnardia from Scilla and Ornithogalum ; and 

 now propose the genus Camassia, which we conceive to 

 be distinctly separated from Czackia and Anthericum (the 

 Phalangium of Jussieu) by its bulbs; and from Scilla, 

 Albuca, and the like, by the 5 ascending segments of its 

 perianthium, ascending stamens, and declinate style. It is 

 probable that other species now referred to Anthericum 

 may also belong to this genus ; but upon that inquiry our 

 leisure does not at present permit us to enter. 



Bulb ovate, tunicated, dark brown, about the size of a 

 hazel-nut. Leaves linear, acuminate, channelled, bright 

 green, shorter than the scape, curved, or as it were 

 broken back in the middle in consequence of their weak- 

 ness. Scape 1 or 2 feet high, taper, glaucous, purplish 

 towards the extremity. Bractece somewhat scarious, ovate, 

 with a long point, longer than the pedicels, the lowest often 

 empty. Pedicels filiform, half an inch long, ascending. 



