no CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. [Proc. 3D Ser. 



visited a spot where C . luteus var. oculatus and C. luteus 

 var. citrinus had hybridized to a remarkable degree. A 

 few yards away, indeed mingling with them, were thousands 

 of C. venustus. Within a quarter of a mile I do not doubt 

 there were fifty thousand plants in flower, yet close search 

 failed to reveal one that in any way suggested a cross of C. 

 venustus with any of the variations of C. luteus. 



In the " Botany of California," Vol. II, published in 

 1880, Watson described twenty-six species of Calochortus. 

 The work was carefully done, though the material at com- 

 mand was meager as compared with that obtainable now; 

 yet nearly every species recognized by Watson stands good 

 to-day. Many new species have been added, but by the 

 exploration of new territory rather than by the subdivision 

 of old species. 



The work of preparing the present paper has been facili- 

 tated by the courtesy of the California Academy of Sciences 

 and the University of California, in allowing me to inspect 

 their herbarium specimens. Mr. J. W. Congdon of Mari- 

 posa very courteously permitted an examination of his 

 material, and to Mr. G. W. Hansen I am indebted for a set 

 of specimens from Amador County. My personal collec- 

 tion, including both herbarium and living specimens, covers 

 a wide range; still, with these facilities, probably as good as 

 can be obtained anywhere, the material is painfully unsatis- 

 factory in some species, several of which are represented 

 in the best herbariums by a single specimen, if at all. 



With each year appear many new forms, even from Cali- 

 fornia. Last season brought three new species, and many 

 striking variations of old species were added to the already 

 large assortment. The field is immense and has never been 

 properly worked over. In view of these facts, it seems the 

 wisest course to disturb existing nomenclature as little as pos- 

 sible. As to whether a given degree of difference warrants 

 a specific or a varietal name seems to me to be very largely 

 a matter of personal opinion. While one can hardly agree 

 with the author who designates a color form by a specific 

 name, it will probably be consulting the convenience of 



