310 THE FLOEAL TTOKLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



The E. dens-canis, although common in our gardens, is not a native 

 of Britain, but in Switzerland and other parts of Europe it is com- 

 mon. It also extends all the way across Asia to the Pacific coast, 

 through Southern and Temperate Siberia, Baikal, Duhuria, etc., 

 where it assumes at least three different forms or varieties — the 

 common one ; one called E. sibiricum by Fisch, and another called 

 E. parviflorum by Eegel. This, I believe, is the only old-world 

 species. Two other supposed species, one (E. bifida) with a bifid 

 style, and another called longifolium, from Switzerlaud, have been 

 described by Sweet in his " Flower Garden ; " but they are only 

 varieties. America is better provided with species. The Atlantic 

 slope of the continent has two — one (the common yellow Adder's- 

 tongue), E. americanum, of which bracteatum (Boott) is a var., is 

 yellow, and has the green leaves spotted with purplish and dotted ; 

 the other, E. albidum, has a white or bluit-h white flower, and the 

 leaves spotted but not dotted. Two other names (E. jS'uttallianum, 

 and E. carolinianum) are either varieties or synonyms cf these. Now 

 with reference to these two species, I should like the reader to note 

 what are the distinguishing characters, for he will presently see that 

 exactly similar differences occur in the varieties of the Erythronium 

 of the Pacific slope; and if what is sauce for the goose should be 

 sauce for the gander, it would appear to follow that either the two 

 eastern species should be united, or the varieties of the western 

 species should be separated into difterent species. At the same time, 

 I should note that in speaking of the second of the eastern species 

 (E. albidum) I do not myself know the plant, and speak only from 

 Prof. Asa Gray's description in his Manual. The differences then 

 between E. americanum and E. albidum are these : — 



E. americanum. E. alhidum. 



Leaves — spotted with purplish 



and dotted. 

 Perianth — pale yellow, spotted 



near the base. 

 Style — club shaped, stigmas 



united. 



spotted but not dotted, 

 white or bluish white, 

 club shaped, stigm.ns 3-cleft, 



On the western side of the Rocky Mountains we have the species 

 E. grandiflorum, which has led us to this subject, It was first de- 

 scribed by the late Sir William Hooker in the Flor. Bor. Amer. ii. 

 182, and four varieties indicated : — 



1. E. grandiflorum var. minor, Hook. ; flower yellow and single 

 on the stem ; leaves green and not spotted ; stigmas united and 

 brought to a point. This is figured by Lindley in the Bot. Beg. t. 

 1786. 



2, E. grandiflorum var. giganteum, Hook., Lindley, I. c. ; flowers 

 vellow, from two to five flowers on the stem ; leaves green and not 

 spotted ; stigmas united and pointed. 



As to these two varieties, there can be no doubt that they are 

 one thing. In the large patches of them which I saw in Utah, every 

 variety, from that with a stem with a single flower up to othei's with 

 as many as nine or ten flowers on a stem, were to be seen growing 



