The White Prairie Lily. 141 
LEUCOCRINUM MONTANUM. 
The generic name of this dainty little plant means white lily; 
translating the entire scientific name it might be called, White Lily 
of the Mountains. It seems more appropriate, however, to name it 
White Prairie Lily; for it is the most attractive of the spring flowers 
of the eastern Colorado plains. 
In the vicinity of Denver the plants are quite common during 
May, and in some localities can be seen for miles; great clumps of 
snowy flowers nestling in a bed of grass-like leaves. It is not un- 
usual to find many plants in one cluster from which fifty blossoms 
could be easily gathered. 
These six rayed starry lilies spring from ground the surface of 
which is often as hard asa rock and unfold to the blue sky, breath- 
ing forth their adoration in a delicate, exquisite perfume. 
They seem to be as hardy and brave as beautiful; for a tempera- 
ture away below zero does not freeze them, nor do the hot, dry days 
of summer deprive them of life. 
It will be wondered, perhaps, how it is possible for this fragile 
looking flower to live and bloom in such adverse surroundings. The 
secret lies buried deep in the ground at its roots. During the spring 
rains and snows, the warmth and moisture awaken this sleeper from 
its ten months’ repose and soon it shoots up, immediately beginning 
to form roots for the next year. On one plant can be found three sets 
of roots. The lowest are ghosts of roots that gave up their life to feed 
the growth of the previous spring; next are numerous long fleshy 
roots that are rapidly being exhausted; and uppermost the tender 
white roots are just beginning to collect the supply for the next 
year. 
Most lilies store their nourishment in bulbs, but this indepen- 
dent prairie flower, has instead a short erect root stock and many 
long, fleshy roots. 
The tube of the perianth extends down among the leaves and 
bracts for about two inches and its divisions are nearly an inch long, 
making the expanded flower about two inches in diameter. The 
seed vessel is at the very bottom of the tube and underground. I 
know of no other plant that naturally ripens its seeds underground, 
and have been greatly puzzled to explain this peculiar habit, which 
would seein to effectually check its distribution. 
The only reasonable hypothesis that has occurred to me is this: 
the plant requires to be some depth below the surface so as to obtain 
sufficient moisture; it is found where the signs of gophers and prairie 
dogs abound; so, probably, the underground portions serve as food 
for these little animals and the seeds are thus properly distributed. 
Alice Eastwood. 
