o 
del.cate markings with dots, lines and hairs, are strongly suggestiveof 
the wings of a brilliantly colored butterfly. Botanists have variously 
divided this great group of allied forms between C luteus and C venustus. 
Botanicallv all can be considered as either strains of one variable 
species or as a number of closely allied species. 
THE ROSEUS STRAIN. 
38. C. VENUSTUvS Var. ROSEUS. 
This is the type as described by Bentham, growing in the Coast 
Range of California. 6 to 10 inches high, stout. Petals broader 
than long, with a short, broad claw. Flowers two inches across 
of exquisite shading. Creamy white of suffused with lilac. A 
i o»e eoloied blotch at apex of petal, fine eye midway, red shad¬ 
ings on lower third of pdtai. Back of petal rich carmine. Well 
figured in Garden in ‘85. 
Var. SULPHUREUS. 
Exactly like type but color clear yellow, rose blotch at top of 
petal as in roseus. 
Var. SANGUINEUS. 
In this showy form the flowers are dee]) red with very dark eye, 
and without rose blotch at apex. 
39. Var. PURPURASCENS. 
Flowers like var. roseus; fully three inches across, purplish lilac 
outside and top of petals, creamy white half way, purple at 
center. A beautiful eye in middle of petal, but no rose blotch at 
apex. This strain is a strong vigorous grower, the best of all ex¬ 
cept C Vesta. On each stalk are several large offsets which soon 
form fine bulbs. It is natural to a rich, heavy, sticky clay, but 
thrives in any loam. Colored plate in Garden, 1895. 
THE EE DORADO STRAIN. 
Thi s lovely strain introduced and named bv me in 1895 is botan- 
ically close to var. roseus, vet to the eye clearly distinct. It is of much 
taller growth, being from ten inches to three feet in height. Petals arc 
narrower than long, drawing to a narrow claw, and giving quite a 
different outline from var. roseus, with its very broad petals and short, 
thick claw. In color it is unsurpassed. In the same locality it varies 
from white, through lilac, deep velvety purple, and reddish purple, to 
rich red, pink and salmon. All are marked with a showy eye, colored 
brown and with yellow, and beautifully dotted and lined. All have a 
showy red center, while to some is added a large gold blotch at apex 
of petal. There are also line forms in cream and light yellow. 
The different color forms also grow separately and I am able to 
furnish in reliable separate colors. 
40. El Dorado strain, mixed selected bulbs. Giving them in the wide 
range in which they naturally occur, the white most frequent, 
next purple, while the red, salmon and pink are rare. 
