LILY FAMILY. Liliaceae. 
There are many kinds of Brodiaea, among the prettiest 
western flowers. They have a small, solid bulb, coated 
with brownish fibers. The stem bears a bracted, roundish 
head of flowers at the top, the pedicels varying in length. 
Their leaves, all from the root, are grasslike and soon wither 
and the flowers dry up, become papery, and remain on the 
stalk, sometimes keeping form and color for some time. 
The stamens are in two sets and are attached to the flower- 
tube, their filaments often winged. Sometimes three of the 
stamens are without anthers and their filaments are broad- 
ened, so that they look like small petals alternating with 
the ordinary stamens. 
. ) All through the spring these lovely 
a pte. EXE flowers grow abundantly all over the hills 
Brodiaza capitata and fields of California. The slender stalks 
Blue, violet vary from a few inches to two feet tall. 
Spring The flowers are usually purplish-blue, but 
California 
vary from deep-violet to white and are 
rather translucent in texture. They measure over half an 
inch across and grow in a cluster of seven or eight flowers, 
with several membranous, purplish bracts at the base. 
There are six anthers. The three inner stamens are winged 
and form a crown in the throat of the flower-tube. These 
Brodiaeas last a long time in water and are great favorites 
everywhere. The little bulbs are edible and give the name 
of Grass Nuts. There are several other names, such as 
Cluster Lily and Hog-onion. The name Wild Hyacinth is 
poor, as it does not resemble a hyacinth in character. B. 
capitata var. paucifldra of Arizona is similar, except that 
the bracts are white. Covena is the Arizona 
name. 
Ookow Much like the last, except that only 
Brodiaéa congésta three of the stamens have anthers and the 
car eicorsis stem is sometimes as much as five feet tall. 
ag hi gondag This grows on open hills in the Coast 
Cal. Ranges. 
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