350 CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM, 
the palo de Addn was one of the most abundant shrubs except on the upper slopes 
of the mountains. It was also seen on Magdalena and Cerralvo islands. It is more 
generally distributed than splendens, which prefers gravelly or rocky places, while 
the present species spreads from such areas out over sandy deserts. Like many other 
shrubs of this region, it is nearly or quite leafless during the dry season, but the full 
foliage appears in remarkably short time after the first rains. A deer killed on the 
desert west of San Ignacio about the middle of October had its stomach entirely filled 
with newly grown leaves of palo de Adin. Specimens were taken at various places 
from San Andrés to near Cape San Lucas between September 21 and January 19, 
showing that flowers and fruit are produced irregularly during much of the year. 
The range of this species and its association with so many southern plant forms seem 
to place it in the subtropical section of the flora. In his Flora of the Cape Region 
Brandegee records this species under the name “ Fouquiera spinosa’’ as occurring 
throughout the whole region excepting the high mountains. 
Idria columnaris Kellogg. Crrio. Prates 121, 122, A, B. 
Near Las Cuevas, a few miles southeast of San Fernando, we abruptly entered the 
range of the extraordinary tree known locally as “cirio.’’ It became at once a domi- 
nant species, giving to the entire landscape, by its strange configurations, an aspect 
very unlike anything we had ever seen. It is generally distributed over rocky hills 
and sandy flats, but is most numerous on the lower ground, where it commonly forms 
a scattered forest, the taller trees reaching a height of about 18 meters. In many 
places, especially along the high rocky backbone of the Peninsula, its range was 
interrupted, but it would reappear a few miles farther on. It was found to be dis- 
tributed along our route from near San Fernando to near the Tinaja de Santana, about 
halfway between Calmallf and San Ignacio, and its general range thus includes one 
of the most arid sections of the Peninsula. The younger trees are stocky and quite 
symmetrical, but the older ones are apt to become top-heavy and in overhanging 
assume many fantastic shapes. A flowering specimen was obtained at Jaragudy, 
about 58 miles southeast of San Fernando, September 9. The following notes on this 
species by Doctor Veatch accompanied the original description by Kellogg: 
“T found the /dria columnaris growing rather abundantly on the margin of the Bay 
of Sebastian Viscanio, at a point east of Cedros Island, on the coast of Lower California. 
It was observed mostly on the sandy and gravelly flats formed by the expansion of 
hil ravines in their approach to the shore. Near the same locality was also found 
the kindred genus Fouquieria, whose bright scarlet blossoms contrasted strongly and 
pleasantly with the pale yellowish inflorescence of the Idria.”’ 
Many of the larger trees are hollow. Bees introduced into Lower California have 
thrived in a wild state and frequently occupy the hollow trunks of the cirio. 
KOEBERLINIACEAE. Junco Family. 
Koeberlinia spinosa Zuce. ALLTHORN, 
A common Lower Sonoran species of the southwestern United States. Recorded 
by Brandegee at San Jorge. 
TURNERACEAE. Turnera Family. 
Turnera humifusa (Presl) Endl. DAMIANA, 
A small shrub found in the Cape District south of La Paz, as also along the west 
coast of Mexico, in both regions called “damiana.’? It is common, with a height of 
30 to 60 cm. along the basal slopes of the Victoria Mountains up to 1,050 meters. It 
is used as tea and in flavoring a liquor called “pazanita.”’ A flowering specimen was 
taken between San Bernardo and El Satz, in the Victoria Mountains, January 21. 
Brandegee records it as common at low elevations in the Cape District. 
