54 LILY FAMILY 



to \}i in. long, tapering to the slender base, cleft to below 

 the middle. Outer (sterile) filaments oblong-lanceolate, 

 about equalled by the erect anthers of the inner stamens. 

 (Hookera coronaria Salisb.) 



The large flowers of the Harvest Brodiaea are conspicuous 

 sights in the half-brown grass of dry meadows in late spring 

 and summer, but it does not reach the higher mountains. It 

 has been found at Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy, Wawona, and 

 similar places of moderate altitude. 



5. B. multifldra Benth. Pedicels % in. or less long, ex- 

 ceeded by the ovate purple bracts. Flowers % i n - long, con- 

 tracted above the swollen base, the throat again enlarged, 

 cleft one-third the way down into spreading segments. Three 

 outer filaments broad, obtuse, entire, without anthers, about 

 equalling the erect 2-toothed anthers of the inner stamens. — 

 A species with the habit and blue flowers of B. capitata, but 

 much less plentiful. It grows at Hog Ranch. 



6. B. capitata Benth. Common Brodiaea. Plant 6 to 18 in. 

 high, with a head-like cluster of flowers subtended by several 

 purple or metallic bracts. Pedicels % to 1 in. long. Flowers 

 ^2 in. long, cylindric, cleft one-third to one-half the way down 

 into slightly spreading lobes. Inner filaments with thin wings 

 which extend beyond the anthers; outer filaments dilated 

 only toward the base, their anthers smaller than the inner 

 ones. 



This, the commonest species of the coast districts and the 

 Sierra Nevada foothills, extends well up into the pine belt and 

 is not rare in the Yosemite. The small bulbs, known as grass- 

 nuts, are often eaten by children, who, like the Indians, pre- 

 fer them uncooked. The plant is variously known as Wild 

 Hyacinth, Cluster Lily, and Blue Dicks. 



7. B. californica Jepson. Twining Brodiaea. Pedicels 14 

 to 1 in. long, either shorter or somewhat longer than the large 

 pink bracts. Perianth pinkish or rose-color, J / 2 in. or less 

 long, with inflated angled tube and narrow throat, cleft to 

 about the middle. Outer (sterile) filaments strap-shaped, 

 notched; inner filaments flat, continued above as two wings 

 behind the anther. (Stropholirion californicum Torr. Brodiaea 

 volubilis Baker.) 



The weak stems of this species commonly climb on other 

 plants around which they are disposed to twine, and in this 

 manner carry their rose-pink flower-heads to heights of 1 to 

 8 ft. It belongs to the lower mountains, reaching our borders 

 in the vicinity of Wawona, Hetch Hetchy, etc. 



