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Brodiaea (J. J. Brodie, a Scotch botanist). Liliaceae. Brodiea. West American cormous plants of low growth, a few of which are now becoming popular in some parts of the country for spring bloom.
Flowers several on a scape: pedicels jointed: the perianth mostly funnelform and non-saccate, not contracted in the throat, ranging from purple to red, white and yellow; stamens 6, 3 of them sometimes reduced to staminodia: Lvs. all radical, narrow, usually few, sometimes evanescent. Monographers include under Bro- disa a number of genera erected by other authors, as Hookera, Triteleia, Milla, Calliprora, Hesperoscordum. (The oldest generic name of the group thus constituted is Hookera, but Brodiaea is one of the "nomina conservanda" of the Vienna code, retained because of its general use in the 50 years following its publication and since). For horticultural purposes, it is better and more convenient to merge all into Brodiaea. In this broad sense Brodiaea includes about 30 species, which must be divided into several groups. Monogr. by Baker, in G.C. III. 20, pp. 213, 238, 459; also Watson, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts and Sci. 14:236. Closely related genera are Bloomeria, Brevoortia and Stropholirion.
The brodieas are valuable for naturalizing in California and the West, as they can be grown very easily. In colder climates they are worthy a trial for the same purposes but probably better for specimen-beds or the coldframe for cutting. They bloom during May, June and early July. B. capitata is the earliest to flower. The flowers are very lasting and beautiful for cutting. Unless planted in large numbers they are of little value for color-massing in beds, but most beautiful and dainty when planted in rockwork or with delicate plants such as ferns, heucheras, or columbines. While there is room for much variation in the treatment of the different species, several growing well in very wet soils while others can be grown even in rock fissures or grit, it will be found that the following general treatment will bring success.
On the Pacific slope, brodieas will grow well and can be naturalized in any soil or situation except in heavy shades or generally wet places or in heavily manured or much-watered soils. When the soil is somewhat sandy or gritty, or has been lightened with road grit, spent tan-bark, leaf-mold or any light material, they will usually) thrive best. It is questionable whether they are quite hardy east of the Rockies and north of Virginia. The soil should be well drained, and a winter covering of leaves should be given. Plant in the fall before the ground is frozen up, from 2 to 3 inches apart and not deeper than 2 ½ inches, water sparingly, and ripen well after flowering. It is unnecessary to lift the bulbs in the summer on the Pacific slope but probably advisable east of the Rockies, unless they are kept dry in summer by placing glass over them.
All brodieas grow readily from seeds, but it requires several years to flower them. Many species produce offsets which, if detached, soon flower. If potted early and placed in coldframes, they can be forced gently.
In the following taxonomy, the species have been thrown into four more or less marked horticultural groups.
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| name = ''Brodiaea''
| name = ''Brodiaea''