46 



stein is eagerly sought after, ami eaten by the In- 

 dians ; it has 'somewhat the flavor of apples, and 

 probably contains malic acid. The root is a 

 strong "astringent ; and is said to be useful for 

 medical purposes. 



Dr. Kellogg also exhibited drawings and spe- 

 cimens of the following plants, the detailed de- 

 scription of which is not deemed necessary, to-wit : 



Asarum Canadense or "Wild Ginger. In some 

 slight points uuiike eastern and more northern 

 specimens, Viola pedunculata ov common largo 

 yellow violet, with its two upper petals light 

 madder brown on the back. Nemophila aurita 

 or long-eared lilac cups, specimens from Goal 

 Island, a beautiful species. 



A singular and beautiful species of Trillium 

 or Wave-wing Wake-robin; petals very long, 

 purple, waved. 



A drawing and specimens of the Black .Moun- 

 tain Currant, probably the Ribes malvacevm } 

 flowers delicate pink, roundish, urceolate, fruit 

 and foliage glandular pubesceut. leaves 5-lobe- 

 angled <fcc; our specimen was injured in transpor- 

 tation ; we look for the mature trait ami foliage 

 to perfect the figure. 



Drawings and specimens of two species of na- 

 tive Paoiiia, or Peony of the gardens. The P. 

 Browaii, with 3 carpels and striated stem &c, 

 also P. Caltfontica with smooth stem, crowded 

 and more numerous leaf-divisions, o carpels &c. 

 The flowers in the wild uncultivated slate are 

 simple, and in both species, madder purple color. 



Specimens of the Taxus Canadensis 01 Canadi- 

 an Yew Tree, in blossom, also Mountain Spruce 

 — cone of Pintu Douglassii — Cornus Nvttallii 

 or California Dogwood or Box tree in bloom, to- 

 gether with specimens of wild plum, and a spe- 

 cies of Franguta or Alder-Bu<kthr.ni. 



The Academy are greatly obliged to Mr. Gar- 

 ritt of Placerville for most of the above speci- 

 mens. 



Dr. K. reported on the Lilial plants referred 

 to him and Dr. Andrews, viz : one from this vi- 

 cinity furnished by Mr. Bloomer, and the other 

 from Monterey by Dr. A. Some doubt is still 

 entertained as "to their reference ; drawings, an- 

 alysis and specimens are preserved and the follow- 

 ing description submitted. 



The first is presumed to be Fritillana alba. — 

 Root composed of numerous small bulblete around 

 the parent bulb; stem succuluit. wry glabrous, 

 round, 6 to 10 inches high, divided into two 



PROCEF.ni.W.S CAL. a. M. s. apbii,, 1855. 



branches at the tip, diverging so gradually as to 

 appear double, each branch terminated by a sin- 

 gle nodding flower about y 2 to 1 inch long and 

 !., to L 3 broad, swelled campanulate, peduncles 

 about two inches long ; leaves spatulate below, 

 sub-linear and remote above, intermediate ones 

 narrow lanceolate, all sessile, sub-amplexicaul, 

 entire, smooth, delicate fleshy, often obscurely 

 3-p.erved, alternate, collected near the base of the 

 stem, often opposite and sub-verticillate, about 

 2 inches long ; the 3 inner petals obovate, some- 

 what abruptly narrowed or rhomboid, slightly 

 indexed at the apex, 3 outer petals narrower, 

 broad elliptic, slightly keeled below, all sessile, a 

 nectariferous cavity at the base ; white, often 

 variegated within as in the Calocftortus, or with 

 !'< i ■! p|c shades of greenish yellow, veins within slight- 

 ly ridged and granulated ; stamens six, inserted 

 into tiie base of the petals, about half their 

 length, anthers turned outwards, half the length 

 of the filaments, yellow, mucronate, erect, attach- 

 ed to the centre, style deeply parted, stigmas 

 villous OB the inner surface, lorn; rcvolutc, cap- 

 sule oblong, ,'i divisions strongly marked by de- 

 pressions, and .'! oilier lesser sub-divisions 3-celled, 

 seeds many, Hat. obovate. cuneate at base, double 

 rows in each cell. 



The general appearance of this plant is like 

 the Uvularias, but in the shape of the Bower and 

 especially the seeds, it must be at present a l''rit- 

 illaria. 



The specimen from Monterey has the lower 

 leaves verticillate by ;>s, and opposite, alternate 

 above, one flowered, nodding, about twice the 

 size of the above, leaves broad and somewhat 

 oblique, probably only a variety. There appears 

 to be some variation in the color of the flowers 

 of these species ; and also in the mature capsule, 

 some being found winged, while others are 

 smooth. 



More recently another new and beautiful spe- 

 cies has been received by Express from Placer- 

 ville. 



Fritillana multiscapulra, Kell. or Blushing 

 Bells. Leaves two, radical, lanceolate tapering 

 at base into a thick concave petiole, entire, 7-nerv- 

 ed : scapes three, leafless, each terminated by a 

 single nodding flower ; flowers campanulate, uu- 

 ezpanded, three outer petals sessile, broad lance- 

 olate, acute, point inflexed, three inner petals 

 somewhat longer, lanceolate, acute, waved, a 

 don I ile ridge within extends down the centre ter- 

 minating in two teeth at the base of the very 

 short claw, stamens six about % an inch in length 

 less than the petals, filaments flattened, en- 

 larging below, anthers % of an inch long, quad- 

 rangular ; style one, longer than the stamens, 

 stigmas three, villous on the inner surface, revc- 

 lute ; capsule 3-celled. 



The root we have not seen ; the leaves are 4 to 

 ."> inch long, about an inch or so in width ; sub- 

 terranean stem swelled at the common origin of 



