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BRODLEA. CALIFORNIA HYACINTH (Brodicea capitata> 

 Benth). Flowers deep blue to lilac, sometimes almost or 

 quite white, in a compact, head-like umbel, borne at the top 

 of a tortuous leafless stem from 6 to 20 inches high or more. 

 Leaves radical, linear, grass-like, and early withering; from a 

 small, fibrous-coated, solid bulb, which is edible. 



This flower, found in bloom in grassy places and on sunny 

 hillsides from February until May, throughout California, is 

 almost as well known and loved as the California Poppy. 

 Its popularity is attested by numerous common names, cur- 

 rent in different sections of the state, as Cluster Lily, Cac- 

 amita, Grass-nuts and Wild Onion the last two from the fact 

 that the little bulbs have been eaten from time immemorial 

 by Indians, and still are by children with patience to dig them 

 up. The name Brodisea commemorates an old-time Scotch 

 botanist and plant lover, James Brodie. 



The cut flowers of the Brodisea keep a long time in water. 

 Indeed, they can be counted upon to preserve their freshness 

 when mailed across the continent. If well developed buds 

 not open flowers are selected and packed immediately in 

 some damp wrapping, they will stand a trip of 5 or 6 days in 

 the mail bags, and expand cheerfully upon being set in water. 

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