LILY FAMILY. 



121 



Bracts scarious. Pedicels jointed at the summit. Perianth-segments 

 6, distinct, oblanceolate, somewhat spreading, persistent. Stamens 6, 

 on the base of the perianth, shorter than the segments; anthers versa- 

 tile. Style filiform, slightly 3-cleft at apex, the lower part persistent. 

 Capsule 3-lobed, loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds several in each cell. 

 (Quamash or camass, the name of the northwest Indians.) 



1. C. Leichtlinii Baker. Camass Plant. Bulb globose, 7 to 10 

 lines in diameter; scape 1 to 2 ft. high; racemes loosely 7 to 18- 

 flowered, the pedicels shorter than the narrow bracts; perianth dark 

 blue to white, 8 to 14 lines long, nearly regular, the segments 5 to 9 

 (usually 7)-nerved, commonly connivent and somewhat twisted above 

 the ovary when withering, at length deciduous; capsule oblong- 

 obovate, slightly notched at apex, 8 to 10 lines long, obliquely 

 veined. 



Meadows and marshes near the coast, rare within our limits: Point 

 Reyes, Bigelow; and northward to British Columbia, where it was 

 first collected by John Jeffrey in 1851. 



12. CHLOROGALUM Kunth. 

 Stem from a tunicated bulb, tall, almost leafless, branching above 

 into a spreading panicle, the branches racemose and sparingly 

 branched or simple. Leaves of the radical tuft long-linear, those of 

 the stems very much reduced. Bracts small and scarious. Pedicels 

 jointed at the summit, Perianth white or pinkish, persistent and at 

 length twisted over the ovary; segments 6, distinct, spreading, ribbon- 

 like, with 3 distinct but closely approximate nerves down the middle. 

 Stamens 6, rather shorter than the segments and inserted on their 

 bases; anthers versatile. Style long-filiform, slightly 3-cleft at apex. 

 Capsule broadly turbinate, 3-lobed, loculicidal, with 1 or 2 seeds in 

 each cell. (Creek chloros, green, and gala, milk or juice.) 



Perianth-segments rotate-spreading in anthesis; pedicels 3 lines long or more; 



bulb with a thick coat of coarse fibers . . . 1. C. pomeridianum . 



Perianth-segments somewhat spreading from above the base; pedicels 1 line 



long; bulb with a membranous coat 2. C. angusti/olium. 



1. C. pomeridianum Kunth. Soap Plant. Amole. Plants 

 2 to 5 ft. high; bulbs 4 in. long and 2 in. thick with a very dense coat 

 of coarse brown fibers; radical leaves numerous, f to 2\ ft. long, | to 

 \\ in. broad, carinate and with strongly undulate margin; cauline 

 leaves few, short and long-attenuate; pedicels slender, about 3 lines 

 long; perianth-segments 8 to 10 lines long, white, purple-veined; 

 capsule 3 lines long, the valves pinnately nerved; seeds 1£ to 2 lines 

 long. 



Dry open low hills and plains throughout California. July-Aug. 

 The flowers open only in the afternoon, whence the specific name. 



2. C. angustifolium Kell. Bulb with a membranous coat; leaves 

 4 to 7 in. long, 2 or 3 lines broad, becoming revolute; plant 14 to 22 

 in. high, the panicle with few ascending branches; flowers white with 

 yellowish-green lines, 5 lines long, on pedicels 1 line long or less, 

 equaling the bracts.or a trifle shorter; perianth funnel-form-campanu- 

 late, its segments narrowly oblong; ovary on a short stipe. 



