312 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



8. QUAMASIA Raf. 



1. Quamasia quamash (Pursh) Coville. Camas. Frequent at low altitudes, in 

 woods, swamps, bogs, or meadows. B. C. to Calif., Utah, and Mont. — Plants glabrous, 

 30 to 60 cm. high, from bulbs; leaves bcsal, linear, 20 to 40 cm. long; flowers deep 

 purplish blue, in loose racemes; petals about 2 cm. long, narrow; capsule 3-angled, 

 1 to 1.5 cm. long. 



The word "camas" is much used in the geographic names of the region. The bulbs 

 were formerly employed for food by the Indians of the Northwest. The Blackfoot 

 Indians usually dug them in early or late summer after the flowers had fallen. The 

 bulbs were baked by placing them in a deep hole in the ground with leaves and gi-ass 

 and heated stones, and above them a fire was kept burning. It is said that two days 

 and nights were necessary for cooking them thoroughly. 



9. CLINTONIA Raf. 



1. Clintonia uniflora (Schult.) Kunth. Queencup. Plate 46, B. Common and 

 often abundant at low and middle altitudes; usually in deep moist woods, but some- 

 times in open places. Alaska to Calif, and Mont. — Plants from slender creeping root- 

 stocks; stem naked, 1 or rarely 2-flowered; leaves 2 to 5, usually 3, oblanceolate, 10 

 to 20 cm. long, with long scattered hairs; flowers pure white, about 2 cm. broad; fruit 

 subglobose, nearly 1 cm. long, deep Prussian blue. 



One of the handsomest flowers of the region. The plants often form great mats of 

 dark green leaves, which are thickly studded with the starlike flowers. The fruit, too, 

 is handsome, and particularly striking because of its unusual color; it is nearly flavor- 

 less, and falls from the stalk easily. The flowers, unfortunately, last only a short time, 

 and most of them have disappeared by midsummer. 



10. VAGNERA Adans. False Solomon's-seal. 



Plants with rootstocks and with simple leafy stems; leaves broad, conspicuously 

 parallel-veined; flowers small, white or yellowish white; fruit a globose berry. 



Flowers in simple racemes. 



Leaves usually folded, pale, ascending; flowers short-stalked .... 1. V. stellata. 



Leaves flat, green, spreading; flowers long-stalked 2. V. sessilifolia. 



Flowers in panicles. 



Leaves clasping, acute 3. V. amplexicculis. 



Leaves contracted at the base into a short narrow petiole, long-pointed. 



4. V. raceu'.osa. 



1. Vagnera stellata (L.) Morong. Star Solomon's-seal. Frequent, especially on 

 the east slope, at low and middle altitudes, in swamps or moist woods. Alaska to 

 Colo., Va., and Newf. (Smilacina stellata Desf.) — Plants 15 to 50 cm. high; leaves 

 lance-oblong, 2 to 8 cm. long, sessile, minutely hairy beneath; petals 3 to 5 mm. long; 

 fruit green, with 3 dark stripes, turning black. 



2. Vagnera sessilifolia (Nutt.) Greene. Common at low and middle altitudes, in 

 moist woods or thickets. Yukon to Calif., Wyo., and Mont. (Smilacina sessilifolia 

 Nutt.) — Stems 20 to 50 cm. high; leaves narrowly or broadly lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm. 

 long, minutely hairy beneath; petals 6 mm. long; fruit 5 to 8 mm. in diameter, red 

 when ripe. 



This is closely related to V. stellata, and it is rather doubtful whether it is a distinct 

 species. 



3. Vagnera amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Morong. Common on the east slope at low and 

 middle altitudes, in moist woods or sometimes on open slopes. B. C. to Calif., N. Mex. , 

 and Alta. (Smilacina amplexicaulis Nutt.) — Plants 25 to 60 cm. liigh, finely hairy; 

 leaves mostly ovate, 6 to 15 cm. long, green and often shining; petals 2 mm. long; 

 fruit 5 to 6 mm. in diameter, at first green with dark red or purple dots, becoming red. 



The plants often form dense patches. 



