728 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



fornia, and is very similar in appearance to the Rhus Toxic( dendron, 

 L. , and seems to be even more poisonous. It is either an erector 

 climbing shrub, with three parted crenate leaves, and small clusters of 

 greenish flowers. A preparation of Grindeha roluista, seems to be effi- 

 cacious in curing the poison. Another species, R. aromatica, Ait. is 

 sometimes mistaken for H. divcrsiloba, and is said to effect some people 

 in the same way. 



Lupiiiiis mn/laris, Dougl. This is one of the handsomest of all 

 the Lupines. Tall and stout in habit, it has large, long petioled 

 leaves, smooth and bright green. A dense spike or raceme of bright 

 blue flowers is at the summit, and it adorns in profusion the zanjas or 

 ditches near Los Angeles. 



Medicago sativa. L. The Alfalfa or Lucerne of the farmers This 

 has been introduced from Australia, and forms one of the most valua- 

 ble pasture plants of California. It grows very rapidly and is often 

 cut four and si.\ times in a season. Once planted and well rooted a 

 field is said to last for 30 years. The roots penetrate so deeply into 

 the soil that they find sufficient moisture for their nourishment without 

 irrigation M. dcnticidata, W'illd., is the Bur or Sheep Clover. It 

 has small yellow flowers, but its chief value is in the l)urs which aflord 

 good nourishment for sheep when all other feed has disappeared from 

 the ground. 



Adenostoma fasciciilatunh Hook and Am. This is the celebrated 

 greasewood we are told so much about and whh h f rms nine-tenths of 

 the vegetation in many parts of the niountains. It is a bushy shrub 

 with awl shaped leaves, and close clusters (;f v\hite flowers. The roots 

 are extensively used for fuel, and its presence on land is a sure indi- 

 cation of water at no great depth. 



Hctcromcles aiiuitifolia, Roem. A very pretty small tree, with 

 crenate coriaceous, bright green leaves, and clusters of white flowers. 

 In the fall the red berries hang on the tree in great profusion, forming 

 large bunches and looking in the distance like ap[)les. 



Saxifraga Pai-ryi, Gray, is strictly a Californian species, and is a 

 very pretty one. It springs from a bulb, and the short stalk has hairy 

 radical leaves, and is surmounted by a small cluster of white flowers. 

 It grows in profusion in dry rocky sod near San Diego. 



Jiissuea 7rpe}is, var. Califomica, Wats. I mention this plant to say 

 that I found it growing in San Juan Canon in the water from some hot 

 sulphur springs. The plants were growing in water which was uncom 

 fortably hot to the hand. Again I have seen them growing in ihe mud 

 on the Los Angeles River. 



Godetia Bottac. Spach. This is a fine species of the genus and 

 has very large, handsome purple flowers. It is peculiarly a western 

 form and is very common in good soil near Los Angeles. 



Mcgarrhiza Califomica, Torr. , is a close relative of Echinocystis 

 lobata, Torr, and Gray, and has much the same habit of growth. It 

 climbs over brushes and shrubs and its long racemes of white 

 flowers, or the large spring fruit look very pretty in the bushes. The 



