+ BOTANY OF THE VOYAGE OF THE SULPHUR. 
San Diego, 32° 29' N. lat. The vegetation generally is highly aromatic, not 
certainly always fragrant or agreeable, but abounding in strongly scented properties. 
It continues to consist of a low shrubby character, amongst which multitudes 
of quail, rabbits, and hares love to nestle. Composite greatly prevail, and are 
numerous even as species. Cuctee are now common, and three species have 
been noticed ; there are a few lactescent plants, and many of the shrubs have 
tough leathery leaves—intelligible indices of the prevailing climate. Ricinus 
communis is seen for the first time, and a few trees of Phenix dactylifera. The 
latter bears no fruit fit for eating, it being very sour. One of the trees was tall 
and fine grown, and stood a solitary vegetable monument amid a lowly growth. 
None of the stunted evergreen oak have been seen below Santa Barbara, and 
their Northern limit is the waters of San Francisco; thus ranging on the coast 
between 38° and 34° N, lat. 
San Quentin, 30° 21' N. lat. We had heard that Lower California was 
“ Muy Arenoso,” but this place did not quite coincide with our conceptions; it 
was, however, extremely arid. In one place sand abounds, in another plenty of 
vesicular lava and volcanic ashes: there is still some vegetation. Our species 
of Cactee are increased to seven; there is an herbaceous Composite with aromatic 
and excessively clammy leaves. Abronia umbellata is a relief to the eye, and 
protects the sand, whose surface is ever on the move; and thus each plant is 
seated over a little dome, which it has shielded from the winds. Its flowers get 
deeper coloured as we gain the south. The long taper roots are an article of food 
on the Oregon; and having had some cooked, I must confess I have tasted a 
worse vegetable. 
San Bartolomé, 27°40' N.lat., Oct.29th. Nothing can exceed the rugged and 
dreary condition of its shores, yet here and there is a straggling shrub, and at 
nearly every spot we land is some peculiar plant. I remarked here, what will 
generally apply to California, that many plants have the habit of bearing their 
leaves and flowers at different periods ; we saw a few in flower of which it was 
impossible to obtain leaves, and these flowers unequalled for the brilliancy of 
their colours. 
Bay of Mugdalena, 24° 38' N, lat., Noy. 2nd. I was yesterday greatly sur- 
prised to find that the vegetation here is so truly varied, beautiful, and engaging. 
A distant view of the hills yields nothing but a dreary prospect, apparently 
solely broken by a few cactus; and on approaching nearer appearances do not 
improve. But on landing, and climbing over the rocks and stones and threading 
the ravines, we behold the surface diversified by clusters of the most interesting 
and brilliant flowers, and we are surprised that they should thus flourish 
amongst so much aridity. It is even more singular that they nearly all should 
