THE CAMASSIA 279 



nutritious. The species known as A. Chilensis, 

 A. pulchella, and A. Brasiliense, and subse- 

 quently on a large number of new species 

 from Chile were grown for combination and 

 selection. 



A great variety of colors and combinations 

 occur in the hybrid forms that may be fixed by 

 selection. A more hardy strain with improved 

 flowers and more compact growth should be 

 sought. 



At one time I crossed plants of this genus with 

 the California lily (Lilium pardalinum) and had 

 several hybrids, but the root and the bulb did 

 not make a good combination. The plants 

 bloomed the second year, then all died. The 

 hybrid blossom was much smaller than that of 

 the lily, and resembled that of both parents in 

 being speckled and in its combination of colors. 

 These hybrids produced no seed. 



The long, slender, white tubers of the Alstrce- 

 meria Chilensis are edible. This plant grows in 

 very dry soil, and is peculiarly adapted to some 

 of the California soils and climates. It is at 

 present too tender for growth in the eastern 

 United States, but it is possible that through 

 hybridization and selection it may be rendered 

 hardy, and in that event this may also become a 

 valuable garden vegetable. 



