236 TJniversity of California Puhlications in Botany [Vol. lO 



of the branches) ; Klamath "River, ITiimboldt County, Chandler 14.S7 ; 

 north of Weaverville, Trinity County, Yates 300 ; Siskiyou County, 

 Rattan in 1879. 



References. — Lotus douglasii Greene, Pitt., vol. 2, 1890, p. 149. 

 Hosackia decumhens Benth. in Lindl. Bot. Reg;., vol. 15, 1H29, under 

 t. 1257, type from northAvest coast of America, Douylas. Var. 

 NEVADENSis Ottlev. Hosackia decuml)ens var. (?)nevadensis Wats., 

 Bot. Calif., vol. i, 1876, p. 138. According^ to Watson, loc. cit., H. 

 heermannii of Anderson, Cat. Nev. P'l., 1870(?), p. 119 and H. heer- 

 mannii, in part, of Wats. Bot. King. vol. 5, 1871, p. 63. Syrmatium 

 nevadense Greene, Bull. Calif. Acad., vol. 2, 1886, p. 148. Lotus 

 nevadensis Greene, Pitt., vol. 2, 1890, p. 149. Hosackia nevadensis 

 Parish, Plant World, vol. 20, 1917, p. 220. Var. congestus Ottley. 

 Lotus incanus Dougl., MSS in Hook., Fl. Bor. Am., vol. 1, 1833, p. 134, 



28. L. argophyllns Greene (pi. 81, figs. 1-8). Silvery-canescent 

 siTffrutescent perennials, with a close tomentum, usually extending 

 from tip to base of the long slender decumbent branches ; pubescence 

 of leaves and calyces longer, denser, and more silky ; leaves 8 to 15 mm. 

 long, with the 3 to 5 roundish obovate leaflets borne close to the stems; 

 the dense, nearly sessile (as a rule) umbels reaching back along the 

 branches for some distance ; bract of one leaflet usually present ; 

 pedicels short, hidden by the pubescence ; flowers 8 to 10 mm. long ; 

 calyx teeth filiform, about one-half the length of the tube, obscured 

 by the hairs ; claws of petals not exserted beyond calyx tube, relative 

 lengths of claws and blades variable (the short blades and long claws 

 figured by Miss Eastwood for this species in contrast with her pro- 

 posed species, Hosackia venusta, are found not to be the typical con- 

 dition) ; ovarj' with 2 to 4 ovules, in fruit keeled (as a rule), attenu- 

 atelj^ beaked, short, extending but a slight distance beyond the calyx 

 and containing but one seed; seeds mottled, smooth, curved-oblong. 



A highly variable species extending south and east from ]\Ionterey 

 County in the Lower and Upper Sonoran. March-July, Varieties 

 occur in the Sierra Nevada, in the mountains of southern California, 

 and on the islands west of the state and of Lower California. Dis- 

 tribution Map 10. When the type approaches L. davidsoyiii Greene 

 in appearance it may be distinguished from the latter by the straight 

 hairs on the leaves and calyces. 



Localities. — Limekiln Creek, Monterey County, Hall 10000 (petal 

 claws long) ; Point 8ur, T. S. Brandegee, July, 1888 ; Big Sur, Davy 

 7429 ; Ventana Cone, Little Sur, Davy 7388 ; near Cahuenga Pass. Los 

 Angeles County, i)ui)ils of Los Angeles High School, June, 1904 

 (leaves and inflorescence resembling those of var. ornithopus) ; War- 

 ner's Springs, A. L. Combs; Witch Creek, Alderson, April, 1894; 

 Ramona, T. S. Brandegee, April 3, 1894; Julian, T. S. Brandegee, 

 June 14, 1894; near Foster, Hall 3884; near Campo, Abrams 3604; 

 Descanso, Eastwood 9083 ; San Diego, Cleveland; Cuyamaca, T. S. 

 Brandegee, June 3, 1896; vicinity of San Diego, Spencer 89; Win- 

 chester, Riverside County, Hall 423; vicinity of Sage, Riverside 

 County, Hall 2899; El Toro Mountain, San Jacinto Mountains, Hall 

 1169 (calyx teeth long) ; Box Springs Mountain, Zumbro, April 10, 

 1902; San Bernardino, Parish Bros. 403; Erskine Creek, Purpus 



