Notes on Calochortus 



Charles Vancouver Pjper 



In the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 

 Philadelphia, for 1868, Professor Alphonso Wood described Calo- 

 chortus elegans names based on specimens collected on " High 

 Hills, Yreka. Also on Mt. Hood." In Dr. Sereno Watson's 

 treatment of the genus (Proc. Am. Acad. vol. 15), Professor 

 Wood's subspecies is recognized and C Lyallii Baker, Jour. Linn. 

 Soc. 14: 305, is cited as a synonym. The Mt. Hood plant has 

 since been collected several times, and in Howell's Flora of North- 

 west America is well described under the name C Lyallii Baker. 

 Wood's name, C elegans nanus, is common on herbarium speci- 

 mens, but without exception all such specimens seen are merely 

 small plants of true C elegans Pursh, and have nothing to do with 

 the original specimens of Wood. 



To clear up the confusion an endeavor was made to find 

 Wood's type specimens, but according to Dr. H. H. Rusby these 

 are not now to be found in Wood's herbarium. Specimens of both 

 collections are, however, in the Gray Herbarium labeled respec- 

 tively "Mts. W. of Yreka, June, 1866" and "Mount Hood, 



August 20, 1866." 



A study of these specimens reveals two entirely distinct species, 

 both of which are distinct from C. Lyallii or any other described 

 species. The following descriptions and notes will make clear the 

 confusion which has existed. 



Calochortus nanus (Wood) 



Calochortus elegans nanus Wood, Proc. Acad. Phila. 1868 : 168. 



1868. 



Bulbs ovate, deep-seated, 2-3 cm. long : stems erect, 10-15 cm. 

 long, exceeded by the solitary leaf, 1 -5 -flowered : leaf linear or 

 linear-lanceolate, acute, 10-25 cm. long, 2-7 mm. wide, not paler 

 beneath : bracts lanceolate : sepals oblong-ovate, acute or acumi- 

 nate, blue-tinged, 10-15 mm. long, thinnish, slightly arched at 

 base, without spot at base : petals rhombic-ovate, faintly tinged 



hairy 



18 



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