VOL. II. | Flora of Yo Semite. 157 
_ in accordance with our felicitous custom of giving names, because 
it bears not the least resemblance to clover, and the bear will have 
nothing to do with it. 
The mountain ash ( Pyrus sambucifolia) is not very common but 
may be found up the Tenieya creek. Its bunches of berries are 
larger and brighter in color than those of our “ Christmas berry” 
( Heteromeles arbutifolia) so commonly used to brighten the ever- 
greens in decorating rooms at the winter holidays. 
The wild plum (Prunus subcordata) grows about the valley in 
small and scraggy form. It is much infested by a well-known fungus 
which blasts the fair promise of its flowers by turning its fruit into 
‘plum pockets.”’ 
The “choke cherry’’ (Prunus demissa) is usually found about 
the banks of the streams, its stems and branches distorted and un- 
sightly from the ravages of the “ black knot,’’? which in California 
seems to be confined to this species as it has not yet been reported 
from either of the remaining wild species, nor from cultivated ones. 
Prunus emarginata, the bitter cherry of the higher elevations, 
seems to be entirely free from pests. Its small red fruit is intensely 
bitter. 
The “ mountain mahogany ” ( Cercocarpus parvifolius) grows on 
all the roads and trails about, but not in the valley. When in fruit 
its feathery whitish ‘‘ tails’? make a handsome appearance against 
the background of foliage. 
The only rose of the valley is our familiar Rosa Californica. 
The large-flowered raspberry (Rubus Nutkanus ) is abundant 
about wet places in the cafions. 
Spirea Douglasii is abundant about the foot of the lower Yo 
Semite fall. 
The western spice-bush ( Calycanthus occidentalis ) abounds on the 
way to the Cascades just below the valley. 
Of the wild currants two species belong to the region, Ribes 
sanguineum to lower elevations and Ribes viscosissimum to the 
higher and particularly abundant between Grizzly Peak and Senti- 
nel Dome. 
_ Thesilk-tassel tree (Garrva Fremontiz) is found occasionally at low 
elevations. The roots left in the ground become marbled with 
green and are used in inlaying woodwork. 
The flowering dogwood ( Cornus Nuttallii) with involucres of 
