
LILY FAMILY. Liliaceae. 
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are thatched with the shaggy husks of dead leaves and 
from their tips they thrust out a great bunch of dagger- 
like leaves and a big, ponderous cluster of pallid, greenish 
flowers or heavy, yellowish fruits. The coarse flowers 
are about two inches across, with a clammy smell like 
toadstools, and the bracts are dead white. This grows 
in the Mohave Desert and is at its best around Hesperia, 
where one may see the most fantastic forest that it is 
possible to imagine. Elsewhere it is smaller and more like 
other Yuccas in shape. It was called Joshua Tree by the 
early settlers, it is said because they fancied that its 
branches pointed towards the Promised Land. The fruits 
are relished by the Indians, who utilize the fibers from the 
leaves for weaving baskets, ropes, hats, horse-blankets, 
etc., and make a pulp from the stems, used for soap. 
There are several kinds of Trillium, of North America 
and Asia; with tuberous root-stocks; three, netted-veined 
leaves, in a whorl at the top of the stem; a single flower 
with three, green sepals, three petals, six, short stamens, 
and three styles; capsule berry-like and reddish, containing 
many seeds. The Latin name means “triple.” 
A charming plant, about a foot tall, 
Wake-robin : ; ; 
Birthiroot with a single beautiful blossom, set off to 
Trillium ovatum perfection by its large, rich green leaves. 
White The flower is two or three inches across, 
Spring, summer 
Northwest with lovely white petals, which gradually 
change to deep pink. It is a pleasure to 
find a company of these attractive plants in the heart of 
the forest, where their pure blossoms gleam in the cool 
shade along some mountain brook. They resemble the 
eastern Large-flowered Trillium and grow in the Coast 
Ranges. 
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