I9I9] RAMALEY— SACRAMENTO PLAINS 383 



may be mistaken for some low-growing Ranunculus, because of 

 the profusion of yellow flowers. These plants are found where 

 there is some loose loamy soil above the close grained adobe, or 

 where there is some drainage, as in a shallow draw. If the soil 

 at the center of the depression is fine adobe, then the Baeria, if 

 present, will form a ring outside the centrally placed Allocarya. 

 Or, if water stands an unusually long time in the center, there may 

 be a growth of Damasonium calif ornicum (Alismaceae) , bounded 

 by a ring of Allocarya, and this in turn by a circum-area of Baeria. 



Within the inner area of the depressions Downingia, a small 

 Lobeliaceous plant, becomes conspicuous in late spring because of 

 its great abundance. Even at a distance it may be recognized 

 by its pale blue tint, for it sometimes fills nearly the entire central 

 part after the flowers of Allocarya have disappeared. In some 

 cases the Downingia develops as a wide circum-area, not quite 

 reaching the center of the depression. Often associated with 

 Downingia, and sometimes replacing it, is Gilia leucocephala, 

 which when in large masses gives a whitish tinge to the vegetation 

 complex. 



"Coyote thistle" (Eryngium Vaseyi) is a prickly umbellifer 

 with inconspicuous flowers which occurs in the central part of most 

 of the depressions. Occasionally it forms a rather dense growth, 

 but is more often rather loosely scattered. Hence, although it is 

 the largest of the plants found at any time in the depressions, it has 

 little influence upon the general appearance of the vegetation 

 until late in the season, when it has grown tall and leafy, and when 

 the showy annuals have completed their growth and dried up. 

 The coyote thistle plants have a glaucous appearance that domi- 

 nates the depressions, replacing the pale blue of Downingia, which 

 followed the white of Allocarya or the yellow of gold-fields. 



Among the less abundant plants of the inner area is the "freckled 

 monkey" {Mimulus angustatus and M. tricolor). The plants are 

 small, even minute, and top-heavy with large purple flowers 

 spotted with yellow. When not prominent because of numbers 

 the freckled monkey can nearly always be found rather late in 

 April if search is made for it on the surface of the dried mud among 

 the coyote thistles. Another small plant often abundant, and 



