SISYRIN'CHIUM CALIFOR'N ICUM. 
CALIFORNIAN SISYRINCHIUM. 
Class. Order. 
THIANDRIA. MONOOYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
IHIDACE«. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
California.’ 
1 foot. 
June, Sept. 
Perennial. 
in 1796. 
No. 579. 
The name Sisyrinchium, is derived from the Greek 
SYS, a pig; and riiygkos, a snout. The original 
Sisyrinchium is noticed by Sir James Smith, in 
Rees’s Cyclopaedia, as The name of a bulb, men- 
tioned by Pliny, amongst other bulbs, under vari- 
ous Greek denominations. He relates, after The- 
ophrastus, that it is remarkable for increasing, dur- 
ing winter, in the lower part, which in spring be- 
comes contracted, and the upper ])art is then eatable. 
Nobody has ascertained the real sisyrinchium of 
Theoi)hrastus. Botanists have applied this appel- 
lation, according to their fancy, without even pre- 
tending to ascertain whether it alludes to the fond- 
ness of swine for the root, or to any resemblance in 
its figure to their snout.” To whatever flower for- 
mer botanists applied this name it is evident that 
ours has very little affinity with the original. 
It is not a show’y but a neat and unobtrusive plant, 
which, through several months of summer, will gen- 
erally be found ready to offer its admirers a flower, 
or promise them one to-morrow\ It may be increa- 
sed by division of its roots, and will flourish in any 
garden soil. 
Ilort.Kew. 2, v. 4, 135. 
