THE PLANT WOKLD 123 



among these were Zygademis parnculatus, now first collected so far west, 

 the rare Lemmonia, HosacMa sericea, Delphinium Andersoni and Asclepias 

 vestifa Mohavensis. 



Quite as interesting it was to note the denizens from the other side 

 of the range mingled with this new flora. Not a single shrub, I think, 

 a couple of herbs {LatJ/yrnfi hctiforus and Lupiyius formosus), but a larger 

 number of little annuals," which seem better able to adapt themselves 

 to varied conditions than are plants of longer duration. 



Horsethief Creek was soon reached, and in the damp sand wherein 

 its thin stream was almost lost, fine typical specimens of Fhacelia Mo- 

 havensis were growing. The dry flats nearby were brilliant with the 

 golden cups of the perennial California poppy; but the annual species 

 {EscliscJioltzia peninsular is), so very abundant on the other side of the 

 mountains, does not appear to cross over. 



It was now but a little way to the Mojave River, and shortly after 

 three o'clock we were glad to end our long day's drive, and camp by its 

 clear, rapid stream, which has at this point a considerable volume. 

 Dinner over, there yet remained time for a stroll up the broad bed of 

 sand, dry and boulder-strewn, which borders it. This sterile soil sup- 

 ported some elegant annuals, which, like so many plants thus condi- 

 tioned, showed more flowers than leaves. There were G-ilia dichotoma, 

 just furling its large white petals for the night, and revealing their deli- 

 cately tinted backs ; a brilliant scarlet Mitmdus, which I did not iden- 

 tify; Monardella candicans, emitting its aromatic fragrance beneath the 

 foot ; and Ahronia pogonantha, loaded with its long-stemmed clusters of 

 fragrant lilac. The canon invited at least a day's exi)loration, but the 

 approaching darkness compelled a reluctant return to camp. 



The next morning we were up at the first faint streaks of dawn, 

 and were traveling down the Mojave River, following a little-used road, 

 so dim that at times we quite lost it. Every step was taking us further 

 into the desert, and among strange and interesting plants. Again there 

 was a change in the shinibs. The handsomest of these new ones was 

 Scdazaria, covered by the abundance of its inflated purple-tinted calyces, 

 to which the corolla seems a mere blue tip. Others prominent by their 

 abundance were two Tetradymias {T. spiuosa and T. canescens), and two 

 Lyciums {L. Cooperi and L. JVrighfii). All were in fruit, or past 

 it, and were beginning to shed their leaves for the summer, for 

 most of the desert shrubs, and all its few herbaceous perennials are dor- 

 mant through the heat and drought of summer ; just as in northern cli- 



*The following species were collected : Arenaria Douglasii, CEnothera strigosa, 

 Godetia quadriviUnera, Gilia aurea, Baeria graciles, Penlachaeta aurea and Lago- 

 phylla rantosissima. 



