Yellow Star Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta ) is the most 
widely distributed of any of the members of the Ama¬ 
ryllis family. It is very appropriately named. From 
April until July and more sparingly until September 
we may see these bright shining golden stars peering at 
us from a background of green grass. So closely do 
the leaves of this little plant correspond to the grass 
leaves, among which they grow, that sharp scrutiny is 
required to distinguish them. The blossoms are visited 
by several of the smaller bees for pollen; some of this 
is often unwittingly carried to the sticky stigma of the 
next flower visited and cross-fertilization effected. 
The flowers are in a loose umbel at the top of a scape 
from 3 to 8 in. in height; perianth widespread and 
divided into six shining, golden-yellow sepals, paler and 
slightly greenish on the outside; the six stamens tipped 
with large golden-orange anthers. The slender, narrow, 
grass-like leaves come from a small bulb together with 
the flower scape. This species is common from Me. to 
Manitoba and southwards to the Gulf of Mexico, 
42 
