THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



83 



The plant is a perennial, with large coated bulbs which 

 are usually sunk about six inches below the surface of the 

 ground. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, varying in num- 

 ber but clasping the stem and drying up soon. The sepals, 

 three in number, are lanceolate; at first greenish but later 

 fading to lavender about the edges. The petals vary in color, 

 usually being a delicate lavender but one may sometimes find 

 flowers of a clear pink. The petals are much wider than the 

 sepals and are curiously marked by a triangular glandular pit 

 near the base. They are also hairy part way. There are six 

 stamens and a three-angled ovary. The fruit is septicidal, 

 containing numerous seeds which partly explains the many 

 plants one sees in the barren grounds of the northwest. It 

 also spreads by means of a bulblet situated on the stem, gen- 

 erally a few inches below the surface of the ground. 



The roots penetrate far into the soil in search of the 

 precious water. You frequently find the flower itself reaching up 

 through a gnarled mass of sagebrush, but in average height 

 it seldom ranges over two feet. It seems to have a conscious 

 pride in its unique position and holds itself proudly erect. 

 It is unusually pretty and deserves a place in our gardens 

 among the later spring bulbs, as each flower measures nearly 

 two inches across and there are sometimes as many as six on 

 a stem. A cluster of surprise lilies in a rockery would be 

 worth traveling far to see. 



