LOASA FAMILY. 869 
elliptical. It is the cascara sagrada of commerce, but not that of the 
earlier Spanish settlers. One or two trees were pointed out to me in 
Round Valley, but it does not appear probable that the Indians have 
learned to distinguish between the two shrubs. It is more abundant 
farther north in Humboldt County. 
Rhamuus ilicifolia Kellogg. 
Bé-shém' (¥ okia).—A species of buckthorn, 6 to 15 feet high, which 
has long and very flexuous branches, small, evergreen holly-like leaves, 
which are yellowish or rusty beneath, and small semifleshy red berries 
about a third of an inch long. The fresh inner bark is orange-colored, 
aromatic, and, although not disagreeable to the taste, very slightly 
bitter. My Yuki informants told me that it was ** good medicine,” but 
were unable to tell me for what purpose it was used. The bush is very 
common in the hills about Round Valley and on the river bottoms 
south of Ukiah. The Wailaki name for the bush is d@7-46'-shé. 
VITACEAE. Grape Family. 
Vitis californica Benth. 
Shé-in' (Pomo). ~The native wild grape of the region, which climbs 
over trees in canyons and in damp places to a height of 30 feet or 
more. The fruit is purple, about one-third of an inch in diameter, 
and is borne rather abundantly in large clusters, which ripen in late 
summer. The berry is full of seeds, and generally very sour; but my 
Yokia informant, who seemed to be especially well versed in Indian 
lore, told me that while those yines which grow on laurel and willow 
trees produce tart fruit, those that grow on the white or black oak 
produce sweet fruit. As the latter grow in drier and more open 
situations, the difference, if such exists, must be attributed to this 
cause. A very good jelly is made out of the fruit by a few of the 
better educated women. The smaller woody parts of the vine are 
extremely flexible and are considerably used by the Pomo tribes for 
the rims of their large cone-shaped carrying baskets. It is gathered 
at almost any time and soaked in water and hot ashes, after which the 
bark is removed and the wood split into a couple of strands, which, 
although very coarse, are used substantially as thread. The Yuki 
name for the wild grape is mét-mo’ mam, the Numlaki ‘op. ; 
LOASACEAE. Loasa Family. 
Mentzelia laevicaulis (Dougl.) Torr. & Gr. 
Ka-tsak'-% (Wailaki).—A fine perennial, 2 to 3 feet high, which has a 
dry hispid surface throughout, a whitish stem, light green leaves 2 to 6 
inches long, with wavy saw-toothed margins, and most magnificent yel- 
low flowers, 3to 4 inches in diameter. The Indian children call the plant 
6703—No. 8—01——6 
