188 J. C. BLUMER 



south, is but little higher, and of darker color, presenting flat 

 summits and sheer precipices, evidently remnants of later basaltic 

 outflows. The hazy desert, when viewed from this range, stretches 

 boundless in every direction, with countless low mountain ranges 

 everwhere. Some have erosional outlines, others show remnants 

 of peneplains or volcanic flows. 



Although the date was the 15th of February, the summit that 

 formed the viewpoint was crowned with a golden glow of Califor- 

 nia poppies, and with the showy Lupinus leptophyllus. The 

 dominant shrub is Yucca brevifolia, with Simmondsia calif ornica 

 second in number. Fouquieria splendens and Lycium berlandieri 

 are present, while Calliandra eriophylla, Encelia frutescens, 

 Eriogonum wrightii, Euphorbia melanadenia, Lotus rigidus and 

 species of Sphaeralcea and Artemisia form the mass of the smaller 

 perennials. A considerable growth of grass is present, in which 

 are to be found Heteropogon contortus and species of Bouteloua 

 and Aristida. A smooth, scarlet-flowered pentstemon of great 

 beauty, Pentstemon centranthifolius, was just- coming into bloom, 

 as well as Anemone sphaenophylla and Brodiaea capitata. Among 

 the cacti Opuntia chlorotica is present, and the yellow Echinocereus 

 of the Cababi hills, first seen in the Comobabis, is found to be com- 

 mon. On the southeast slope are to be seen Carnegiea gigantea 

 and Echinocactus emoryi, and a few cylindropuntias are still spar- 

 ingly represented, including Opuntia bigelovii. A few plants of 

 Encelia farinosa and Jatropha cardiophylla were also noted. 

 Being desert species, the last five or six named ascend the moun- 

 tains only on the sides facing the equator, as may be expected. 

 A number of annuals are in evidence, among them Pectocarya, 

 Phacelia distans, Thysanocarpus curvipes, Amsinckia tessellata, 

 Astragalus nuttallianus, and Rafinesquia (Nemoseris) neo-mexicana. 

 That the factor of exposure (not aspect) is operative in the desert 

 as well as on boreal mountain tops is shown by the fact that Par- 

 kinsonia microphylla is on this summit reduced to a shrub little 

 more than 2 feet in height. The same is true of this species on 

 some of the Comobabi summits. 



To the east of the Quijotoa mountains lies the valley of the 

 same name. On crossing it in a westward direction, we find first 



