eee Botanical Reminiscences. [ZOE 
very limited range in California, was apparently as abundant on the 
grassy summits of hills when I first reached the State as it is now. 
Berberis binnata and Ribes Menztiesii were abundant in the 
hills beyond the Mission, the latter, the prickly-fruited goose- 
berry, found also in many other places near the heart of the 
city. Spirea discolor was found near North Beach and a 
single tree of the Box Elder (Negundo Californicum) on the 
hills near Polk street. Sphacele calycina grew on Second street near 
Fremont; and near a resort called Sans Souci, somewhere about the 
site of the Protestant Orphan Asylum, there grew the tall form of 
Manzanita still found so abundantly on the slopes of Tamalpais. 
The prostate species, Arctostaphylos pumila, once abundant still 
survives in a few localities, principally in Laurel Hill Cemetery, but 
will probably disappear shortly. Neither water cress nor the duck- 
weed (Zemna), so often associated with it, were found in our streams 
when I first saw them. 
Near the formerly well known Russ Gardens there were 
extensive marshes abounding especially about their borders 
in interesting plants. Here grew the large-flowered dogwood 
(Cornus Nuttalliz), the buckbean ( Menyanthes trifoliata), Epipactis 
gigantea, the delightfully fragrant Hadenaria leucostachys, and 
Eriophorum gracile. In thesame vicinity I found in a single local-_ 
ity five specimens of Botrychium ternatum; and the Lady-fern 
(Asplenium filix-femina), grew luxuriantly, often forming root- 
stocks two feet high, simulating tree ferns. 
Next to the sudden disappearance of Azolla which between the 
years 1851 and 1854 was almost entirely superseded by Cotula 
coronopifolia, my attention was attracted by an analagous spreading 
of a Lavatera which first came under my notice in September, 
1850, in the garden of a Mr. Tittel. The locality was a little spot 
protected from the drifting sand of the dunes which at that time 
covered Kearny street, between Pine and Bush, and the sight of its | 
rosy blossoms and succulent leaves often refreshed my eyes wearied 
by dying chapparal and barren sand. Mr. Tittel told me that he 
had bought the seed from an Irishman, who kept what was then _ 
called a Half-way House at the Mission Dolores. I did not pay 
much attention to the matter as I was under the impression that : 
the plant, which reminded me very much of Lavateras cultivated 
at the botanical gardens of the University of Wurzburg, was intro- poe 
