LILY FAMILY. 



(Liliaceae) 



For the reason that the writers did not start these investiga- 

 tions until the first of June, it is very likely that many plants 

 belonging to this family are eaten by sheep, but are not included 

 here. They come up, for the most part, early in the spring, 

 during the months of March, April and May, and soon die down. 

 One very common plant which can be found abundantly in the 

 vicinity of Reno is very poisonous. It is commonly known as 

 wild sego, sand corn, and sometimes, erroneously, as lobelia. 

 The leaves resemble the common onion, and come out of the 

 ground very early, usually before the grasses and other forage 

 plants, hence making it very easy for stock to feed on them. 

 The bulbs go so deep into the ground that sheep or cattle could 

 not pull them up unless the ground was exceedingly soft from 

 recent rains. This plant must not be mistaken for the little 

 common onion which is very abundant on our hills, and occurs in 

 patches which at a distance look like grass. 



WILD INDIAN CORN SKUNK CABBAGE. 



( Veratrum Calif ornicum, Durand.) 



PL. XX. 



This plant is generally known to the sheepherders by the 

 above names; but swamp hellebore or false hellebore are the 

 names used in botanical works. It was found in low-lying, wet 

 places all through the mountains from Lincoln Valley to Summit 

 Soda Springs. During the months of June and July only the 

 flowers w r ere eaten off as the sheep passed through the large 

 patches; but in August, when the ground had become dry and 

 several night frosts had occurred , the leaves and stems were eaten 

 down to within an inch of the ground. The character of the 

 plant is so well represented by the illustration (see pi. XX) that 

 a description of it is hardly necessary. It varies in height from 

 two to seven feet, according to the amount of moisture and 

 condition of the soil in which it is growing. The flowers are 

 greenish- white, and are 'at their best during the latter part of 



