42 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
In the case of many bulbous plants, the individuals 
rapidly increase in numbers by means ol bulblets formed 
in the axils of the old bulb scales or wrappings, and in 
such cases few seeds are produced. The wild hyacinth, 
however, does not readily multiply by bulblets", but it 
produces seeds in abundance and these soon grow into 
thrifty plants. They are said to begin blooming when 
about three years old. 
Although Camassia is closely allied to Scilla from 
which the well-known drug squills is derived, it once 
formed a part of the Indian's bill of fare and was known 
ns qnamash or camass. Indeed, from the Indian word for 
the plant, the generic name was derived. While the bulbs 
ot this particular species were undoubtedly eaten by the 
Indians there are many who consider a western species, 
named Camassia esculenta, to be the true camass. The 
difference, however, is a trivial one, for C. esculenta and 
C. Fraseri are often regarded as two forms of the same 
species. The flowers of C. esculenta are somewhat larger. 
This form occurs from California and Utah northward, 
while C. Fraseri is found from Pennsylvania west and 
southward. In suitable situations it is often abundant 
enough to afford considerable sustenance and no doubt 
often helped the Indians over periods in which other food 
was scarce. There are less than half a dozen species in the 
genus Camassia and all are restricted to the temperate 
parts of North America. 
STAR FLOWERS. 
BY DR. WILLIAM WHITMAN BAILEY. 
TT is in some ways a great pity that the name Asteraceas, 
^ "star flowers," as suggested by Lindley, could not 
have been established. Of course, I mean other things 
being equal. I am the very last one to approve radical 
changes of nomenclature. I believe in letting the sleeping 
dog rest ; if awakened he may disturb the whole camp 
and be the cause ol much bad language. 
The points in favor of the name Asteraceie are : first, 
