BIIODI^A AND FEITILLAEIA. 210 



It seems to the writer unnecessary and unscientific to 

 enlarge especially the compact and very natural genus Abies 

 in so many important particulars, and it is to be regretted 

 that so careful a writser as Dr. Masters did not give proper 

 weight to the characters of this monotypic development as 

 Carriere had done iu 1862 when he named it Kefclccria For- 

 tunei — a name that should be restored. It should be added 



that Keteleeria differs as v 

 genus as it does from Abies. 



from every other known 



Notes on Bkodi.ea and Fritillaria. 



Since the publishing of Brevoortia vemisia {see page 230 

 supra), I have received from the gentleman who sold the 

 corms of that plant, the following instructive letter; — 



Peof. E. L. Geeexe, 



-Ukiah, California, 16 July, 1892. 



Dear Sir: — I have seen your descriptions of Bre- 

 voortia veniisia and Fritillaria recurra, var. coccinea. The 

 Brevooriia venusia I know well. It is a hybrid between 

 Brodiwa congesfa and Brevoortia Ida Maia. I entirely 

 agree with you in thinking Brodicea, Brevoortia and Sivopho- 

 lirion as constituting but one genus. This hybrid, your Bre- 

 voortia venusta, is a clinching proof of the close affinity sub- 

 sisting between the species. I first heard of this plant some 

 years ago, through Mr. J. H. Clarke, of Cahto, Mendocino 

 County, who had observed that, where Brevoortia and Bro- 

 dicea congeMa grew near each other, they occasionally crossed. 

 A few years ago I found a few of the hybrids in my bulb 

 beds, and ever since then they have occasionally appeared. 

 In only one case have I seen more than a few together in a 

 wild state. I am of the opinion that their seedlings tend to 

 revert to one or the other of the parents. _ 



In one other instance I have known distinct species of 

 liliaceous plants to cross. Hybrids between Calochortns 

 Maiccanus and C. pvJcheUus are not rare; but they seem 

 never to perfect any seed. 



