Brodiaea
(named after J. J. Brodie, a Scotch cryptogamist). SYN. Hookera. ORD. Liliaceae. Pretty, slender, hardy, or in some positions only half-hardy, bulbs. The flowers are generally borne in large clusters or umbels; the scape is usually straight and slender, but strong. Leaves from two to four in number, enveloping the part of the scape beneath the surface, and procumbent thereon. Most of the species are of easy culture in rich sandy loam; if grown in pots, a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and sand, suits them well. Increased freely by offsets, which should be left undisturbed with the parent bulbs till they reach a flowering state, when they may be divided and replanted in autumn.
B. capitata (headed).* fl. deep violet-blue, funnel-shaped, disposed in a compact, many-flowered umbel; valves of the spathe also deep violet. May. l. narrow, linear. h. 1ft. to 2ft. California, 1871.
B. coccinea (scarlet).* fl. 1 1/2in. long, tubular, rich blood-red below, the apex of the tube and the segments yellowish-green; umbels composed of five to fifteen drooping flowers. June. l. linear, loose, shorter than the scape. h. 1 1/2ft. California, 1870. Very handsome, distinct from all other species, requiring a warm, well-drained, and sunny position, and to remain undisturbed. SYN. Brevoortia coccinea. (B. M. 5857.)
B. congesta (close-headed).* fl. blue, with the crown paler; segments cleft at the top; umbel bearing six to eight blossoms. The stamens in this species are metamorphosed into fleshy scales, which adhere to the mouth of the perianth. Summer. l. few, long, slender, channelled on the inside. Bulb small, roundish, and much wrinkled. h. 1ft. Georgia, &c., 1806. A very free-growing and rapidly increasing species.
B. c. alba (white).* fl. white; in other respects like the type, but not so vigorous.
B. gracilis (graceful).* fl. deep yellow, with brown nerves, 1/2in. or rather more long, in few-flowered umbels. July. l. solitary, about 1/4in. broad, longer than the scape. h. 3in. to 4in. California, 1876. A scarce and rather tender little species, but very pretty.
B. grandiflora (large-flowered).* fl. bluish-purple, with entire pointed segments; umbels bearing two to seven somewhat scattered blooms. Summer. l. two to three or more, linear, pointed, slender, grooved on the inside, furnished with a few membranous scales. Bulb small, roundish, dry and wrinkled. h. 1 1/2ft. North America, 1806. SYN. Hookera coronaria. (B. R. 1183.)
B. Howellii (Howell's).* fl. purplish-blue, about 3/4in. across, sub-bell-shaped, in many-flowered umbels. July and August. l. narrow acute, grooved, shorter than the scape. h. 18in. to 24in. California, 1880.
B. ixioides (Ixia-like). See Calliprora lutea.
B. lactea (milky-white).* fl. white, usually with green midribs, 1/2in. to 3/4in. across, saucer-shaped, in many-flowered umbels. June and July. l. linear, acute, nearly as long as the scape. h. 1ft. to 2ft. California, 1833. SYNS. Hesperoscordon lacteum, Milla hyacinthina.
B. multiflora (many-flowered).* fl. blue-purple, very numerous, in sub-globose heads. May. l. linear, elongate, 1ft. to 2ft. long, rather fleshy. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. California, 1872. (B. M. 5989.)
B. volubilis (twining). fl. rose-coloured, in dense umbels, each containing fifteen to thirty blossoms; scape twining, sometimes 12ft. long. July. l. narrow, linear-lanceolate, 1ft. long, synanthous. California, 1874. Half-hardy bulb. (B. M. 6123.)