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Has the reputation of being poisonous, but 
is certainly not so to hogs, who devour its 
bulbs greedily and without any injury to them- 
selves. 
3. Xerophyllum Rich. 
Perigoninm 6-sepalous; sepals sessile, per- 
sistent; 3 internal ones smaller. Stamens in- 
serted on the base of sepals; anthers laterally 
dehiscent. Ovary 3-celled; cells few-ovulate; 
styles 38, recurved, persistent. Capsule septici- 
dal.—2. Rhizomatous. Leaves linear, elon- 
gate. Inflorescence racemose. 
1. X. renax Nutt. Flowers white.—-Tamal- 
pais. Wright's Station. Spring. 
This plant is remarkable by its flowering 
plentifully at certain years and then disappear- 
ing altogether for a long period. This circum- 
stance is probably owing to the fact that the 
plant requires a fixed age before flowering and 
then dies after having ripened its seeds. We 
find the same peculiarity in many species of 
Bamboo, in some palms, viz.: Corypha, and in 
Agave, all of which plants are annuals in a 
botanical sense, but require a number of years 
to complete their biological cycle. 
Family 4. JUNCACEZ, 
Perigonium glumaceous. Anthers basifixed. 
