CALIFORNIAN UMBELLIFERZ. 273 
sestival But Atænia is entirely exceptional in that its flower- 
ing period begins with the latter part of summer and continues 
throughout all the autumnal months. 
In the typical species, which is of high altitudes, or of a 
more northern latitude, this fact does not become conspicu- 
ous; but in the species which has gone out as Carum 
Kelloggii, I have long noted what is strange behavior for a 
plant of this order; a mode of development and a time of 
fructifying which together indicate that the genus may have 
had a singular history—a genesis most probably wholly apart 
from that of the Old World genus Carum. 
There are some families of the plant-kingdom with species 
whose habit it is to make their leaf-growth at one time of the 
year—be it spring or be it autumn, and to produce their flower- 
stalks, flowers and fruits a half-year later. I am not aware 
that any Umbellifere do exactly so; but Atenia Kelloggii 
comes near to it; for, although like all its kindred plants of 
the Californian flora, it starts into vigorous growth as soon as 
the first December rains have fallen, its rank dense tufts of 
very beautiful foliage contributing largely to the winter 
verdure of all the rich grassy plains of our coast region, this 
foliage dies with the coming in of the summer drought in 
May or June, and the nearly naked flower-stalks put forth 
their earliest umbels as late as the end of July or the begin- 
ning of August; and good fruiting specimens are not to be 
had before the end of September. Even October is a better 
month in which to secure ripe fruit and fresh flowers together 
upon the same stalk. One reason why “This species is very 
scarce in herbaria”! is that it comes into bloom only after 
the whole season of botanizing is supposed to be ended, in 
this region, and no one goes into the sere and dusty fields to 
learn if aught be there. 
Be it understood, the plants do not cease growing during 
the dry season. The leaves die only gradually as the stems 
slowly develope. The species has not two periods of growth 
1. Coulter & Rose, Revis. Umb. p. 129. 
