In midspring, when passing among the plants upon our dry, open hillsides, our attention is often attracted by a certain delicate, rustling sound, which we find emanates from the little papery bells of the dried blossoms of the Emmenanthe, which retain the semblance of their first freshness for many weeks.
Though not at first apparent, a little examination will reveal the fact that these plants are very closely related to the Phacelias, the chief difference being in the yellow corollas.
YELLOW STAR TULIP.
Calochortus Benthami, Baker. Lily Family.
Leaves.—Much elongated; two to five lines broad. Stems.—Slender; three to six inches high. Buds.—Nodding. Flowers.—Erect; yellow. Petals.—Six or seven lines long; spreading; mostly obtuse; rather densely covered with yellow hairs. Gland.—Shallow; lunate. Capsule.—Nodding; six to nine lines long. Hab.—Sierra Nevada foothills, throughout their length.
[WHISPERING BELLS—Emmenanthe penduliflora.]
![[WHISPERING BELLS—Emmenanthe penduliflora.]](#3624944100741987669_f044.png.id-5894374056936358548.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
This is a very pretty little star tulip, with graceful, flexuous stems and erect flowers, whose spreading petals are covered with hairs. Sometimes there is a dark-brown, almost black, spot upon the petals, and when such is the case the plant is called C. Benthami, var. Wallacei.