AND THEIR CULTCKE. 25 



and enter the large valleys of the interior, -n-here the climate is hot and 

 the air dry, we soon lose sight of this plant, even. on the banks of 

 ■streams. Crossing these, and ascending the foot hills of the Sierras, to 

 an altitude of from 2,500 to 4,000 feet, we meet it again in all its glory in 

 wet localities, growing in wet boggy soil, mostly subject to overflowing 

 at some time during the year, its bulbs are imbedded but a few inches 

 beneath the surface of the soil. At San Francisco it blooms readily in . 

 •cool-houses. 



(c). The next marked form, L. Californicum (Hort.), L. Walherii 

 (Wood), L. Hariwegii (Baker), L. Pvherulum (Torr.), differs very 

 strikingly from the preceding variety, in the form and arrangement of its 

 leaves, and in habitat. The leaves are usually arranged in dense and 

 numerous whorls, only the uppermost are scattered, linear lanceolate, 

 .acuminate, and of a dull green colour, while those of the preceding form 

 are mostly spathulate or oblanceolate, and of a bright green colour. 

 This form we find on moist slopes of the lower foot-hills of the Sierras, as 

 as well as those of the coast ranges where the climate approaches, more 

 or less in character, that of the interior valleys. In these thus charac- 

 terised localities, the plant is neither copiously supplied with moisture by 

 heavy dews, or dense fogs, nor by an abundance from below. 



4. L. Parvum (Kellogg). — "The specific name of this species refers 

 .solely to the small size of the flower, for in every other respect, this plant 

 attains as large a size as any of our Lilies, if not larger. It begins at an 

 elevation in the Sierras, where to my knowledge L. PardaUnum ceases to 

 grow, namely at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and extends upwards to 8,000. 

 It is found growing exclusively^ on the banks of mountain streams, or in 

 shady swampy places, through which a constant stream of cold water 

 runs. The leaves are mostly scattered over the entire stem, spathulate or 

 oblanceolate, and somewhat glaucous. The ramifications of the branches, 

 and the number of flowers, depend upon the size to which the plant 

 developes. The perianth is of an orange yellow, spotted with purple, and 

 but slightl}^ recui'ved at the tip. Its cultivation seems to oS^er more 

 difficulties than any other of our species. Botanists either collecting or 

 studying Californian plants, cannot bestow too much care upon their 

 habitats, and can never possess of one and the same species, too large a 

 quantity of specimens collected at different localities. In a country like 

 this, where there are in fact but two seasons, the wet and dry, passing 

 abruptly from one into the other, the proximity to, or the distance from, 

 the foggy coast, the general physical and mechanical properties of the 

 different soils, the elevation (whether west and north or east and south), 

 and the distance from the rainless belt bordering this State in the south, 

 or from the rainy belt approaching it in the north, must be carefully taken 

 into consideration. Omitting for the present any remarks on those parts 

 of California situated south of latitude 35'-', and those north of latitude 

 40^, there are distinguishable in middle California the following ten well 

 anarked botanical regions or belts from west to east : — 1. The immediate 

 sea coast belt. 2. The Redwood, belt. 3. The hilly or mountainous park and 

 •chapparal belt. 4. The Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. 5. The 

 lower-foot hills of the Sierra Nevada to 2,000 feet altitude. 6. The middle 



